Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Taste Buds and Receptors01:20

Taste Buds and Receptors

3.2K
Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
3.2K
The Physiology of Taste01:24

The Physiology of Taste

4.9K
The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the...
4.9K
Gustation01:43

Gustation

50.2K
Gustation is a chemical sense that, along with olfaction (smell), contributes to our perception of taste. It starts with the activation of receptors by chemical compounds (tastants) dissolved in the saliva. The saliva and filiform papillae on the tongue distribute the tastants and increase their exposure to the taste receptors.
50.2K
The Tongue and Taste Buds00:49

The Tongue and Taste Buds

38.5K
The surface of the tongue is covered with various small bumps called papillae, which either distribute what has been ingested (filiform papillae) or contain the sensory taste (or gustatory) receptor cells (fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate papillae). Embedded within each taste-related papilla are the taste buds—clusters of 30 to 100 gustatory receptor cells.
38.5K
Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine01:29

Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine

764
The gut microbiome is formed by a vast and diverse community of bacteria that colonizes our large intestine. These bacteria start residing in the gut from birth and continue diversifying throughout life, influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, and stress. The gut bacterial community also includes bacteria from food and those that enter the colon through the anus.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
764
Tactile and Chemical Senses01:27

Tactile and Chemical Senses

406
Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex.
406

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Challenges and recommendations in establishing national human diversity genomic projects.

Nature methods·2026
Same author

Biopolymer-Based Gel Capsules for Improved Probiotic Delivery.

Gels (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Diet-Oral Microbiota Interactions and Salivary Biomarkers of Nutritional Health: A Narrative Review.

Nutrients·2026
Same author

SARS-CoV-2 wastewater genomic surveillance: approaches, challenges, and opportunities.

Genome biology·2026
Same author

Microbiome and Long COVID-19: Current Evidence and Insights.

International journal of molecular sciences·2025
Same author

Gut microbiota and ankylosing spondylitis: current insights and future challenges.

Microbial cell (Graz, Austria)·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test
07:10

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test

Published on: August 17, 2018

16.7K

Do Gut Microbes Taste?

Ryan Leung1, Mihai Covasa1,2

  • 1Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA.

Nutrients
|August 27, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Gut bacteria significantly influence appetite and energy regulation by interacting with host signaling pathways. This review explores how gut microbes impact taste perception, potentially affecting food choices and metabolic health.

Keywords:
appetitegut microbiotaintestinal dysbiosismicrobiometaste function

More Related Videos

Effects of Taste Signaling Protein Abolishment on Gut Inflammation in an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Mouse Model
09:31

Effects of Taste Signaling Protein Abolishment on Gut Inflammation in an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Mouse Model

Published on: November 9, 2018

8.8K
µTongue: A Microfluidics-Based Functional Imaging Platform for the Tongue In Vivo
07:53

µTongue: A Microfluidics-Based Functional Imaging Platform for the Tongue In Vivo

Published on: April 22, 2021

4.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test
07:10

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test

Published on: August 17, 2018

16.7K
Effects of Taste Signaling Protein Abolishment on Gut Inflammation in an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Mouse Model
09:31

Effects of Taste Signaling Protein Abolishment on Gut Inflammation in an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Mouse Model

Published on: November 9, 2018

8.8K
µTongue: A Microfluidics-Based Functional Imaging Platform for the Tongue In Vivo
07:53

µTongue: A Microfluidics-Based Functional Imaging Platform for the Tongue In Vivo

Published on: April 22, 2021

4.5K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Metabolic Science
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • The gut microbiota functions as a metabolically active organ crucial for host health and disease.
  • Microorganisms in the gut regulate physiological and metabolic processes, including appetite and energy balance, impacting both peripheral systems and the brain.
  • Gut bacteria and their byproducts interact with host chemosensory pathways to influence ingestive behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances on the role of gut bacteria in taste perception and function.
  • To discuss how intestinal dysbiosis in pathological conditions may alter taste preferences and food consumption.
  • To highlight the connection between gut microbiota, taste receptors, and metabolic disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent scientific advances.
  • Analysis of the interplay between gut bacteria, host chemosensory signaling, and ingestive behavior.
  • Examination of the impact of intestinal dysbiosis on taste receptor expression and food preference.

Main Results:

  • Gut bacteria metabolites interact with gut epithelial receptors, altering taste and appetite responses to nutrients.
  • Changes in gut microbiota composition (dysbiosis) can modulate taste preferences and food consumption patterns.
  • Gut bacteria play a critical role in modulating host appetite and energy regulation through complex signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Gut bacteria are integral to taste perception and ingestive behavior.
  • Intestinal dysbiosis can lead to altered taste preferences and impact metabolic health.
  • Understanding the gut microbiota's role in taste is vital for addressing obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic disorders.