Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 16, 2025
11:22
Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
Published on: October 15, 2019
30.4K
The gut microbiota and gut disease
Sasha R Fehily1,2, Chamara Basnayake1,2, Emily K Wright1,2
1Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Internal Medicine Journal
|October 19, 2021
Summary
The gut microbiota influences health and gastrointestinal diseases. Therapies targeting gut microbes, like fecal microbiota transplantation, show promise for conditions such as C. difficile infection and ulcerative colitis.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Microbiology
- Investigates the role of the gut microbiota in health and disease.
Background:
- The gut microbiota is crucial for maintaining health and contributes to gastrointestinal diseases.
- Conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and metabolic liver disease are linked to gut dysbiosis.
- Microbiota-based therapies are emerging despite incomplete characterization of microbial disturbances.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current literature on microbiota-targeted therapies for gut disorders.
- To explore the potential of microbial-changing therapies as adjunct or alternative treatments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of microbiota-targeted therapies.
- Analysis of the role of antibiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation.
Main Results:
- Antibiotics are used for initial Clostridioides difficile disease and some inflammatory disorders.
- Probiotics have a limited, though evolving, proven role.
- Fecal microbiota transplantation demonstrates therapeutic benefit in recurrent C. difficile disease and ulcerative colitis.
Conclusions:
- Microbiota-targeted therapies offer potential for treating gut disorders.
- These therapies may address pathophysiological contributors and supplement standard treatments.
- Further research is needed to fully characterize microbial disturbances and optimize therapeutic strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
84.2K
Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
84.2K
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
544
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by functional disturbances in the gastrointestinal system, presenting a cluster of symptoms without evident structural or biochemical abnormalities. It primarily affects the large intestine and may cause abdominal pain, bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea, constipation, or both.
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
544
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
567
Chronic bowel diseases are a group of long-term conditions affecting the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation and damage to the gut lining. These conditions primarily include irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
567
01:29Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine
750
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.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
750
01:30Other Disorders of Digestive System
1.1K
The gastrointestinal tract is susceptible to various disorders. If the lower esophageal sphincter is damaged, stomach acid can flow back into the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation of the lining. This condition is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (known as heartburn) and may cause chest pain and difficulty swallowing. In the stomach, prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, chronic alcohol consumption, bacterial infections such as Helicobacter...
1.1K
01:05Physiology of Enteric Nervous System and Gut Health
487
The gastrointestinal tract, responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients, is safeguarded by the intestinal barrier, which consists of secretory, physical, and immune components. At the forefront is the secretory barrier, composed of essential elements such as mucus, gut microbiota, and defense proteins. They collaborate to break down food particles, facilitate nutrient absorption, and maintain optimal gut health. These secretory components ensure the smooth functioning of the...
487