Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine

Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine

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.

Physiology of Enteric Nervous System and Gut Health

Physiology of Enteric Nervous System and Gut Health

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...

Anatomy of the Intestines

Anatomy of the Intestines

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...

Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic

Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur in a healthcare facility while a person receives care for another ailment. This category also includes work-related infections among healthcare staff.
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies.

Dimensions of Health and Illness

Dimensions of Health and Illness

The factors influencing the health-illness continuum can be internal or external and may or may not be under conscious control. They are related to the following eight human dimensions, and each dimension is interrelated to one other.

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Predicting the seed microbiome using phylogeny-driven machine learning.

Environmental microbiome·2026

Same author

Plant-specific microbial diversity facilitates functional redundancy at the soil-root interface.

Plant and soil·2026

Same author

Shifts in the Rhizosphere Bacterial Community and Improved Essential Oil Yield and Quality in Chamomilla recutita L. Plant Through Cyanobacterial Inoculation.

Microbial ecology·2026

Same author

From "synthetic" to defined microbial communities for clearer terminology.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Diversity and selected functional traits of microbiota associated with traditional dried plant foods from South African informal markets.

FEMS microbes·2026

Same author

Microbial diversity creates a global firewall against pathogens in soil.

Cell host & microbe·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2025

Microbial Communities in Nature and Laboratory - Interview

Microbial Communities in Nature and Laboratory - Interview

Published on: May 28, 2007

Microbiome Literacy: Enhancing Public and Academic Understanding Through the 'Microbiome & Health' Online Course.

Matthias Schweitzer¹, Birgit Wassermann¹, Ahmed Abdelfattah^1,2,3

¹Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria.

Microbial Biotechnology

|February 12, 2025

Summary

This study created a free online course on microbiome science to combat misinformation. The course successfully increased microbiology literacy in the public and academia, supporting sustainable health and biotechnology.

More Related Videos

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota

Published on: February 15, 2019

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device

Published on: August 30, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2025

Microbial Communities in Nature and Laboratory - Interview

Microbial Communities in Nature and Laboratory - Interview

Published on: May 28, 2007

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota

Published on: February 15, 2019

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device

Published on: August 30, 2016

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Environmental Science
Biotechnology

Background:

Microorganisms are vital for Earth's ecosystems and health.
Human activities impact global microbiomes.
Limited accessible resources and misinformation hinder public understanding of microbiome science.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and evaluate a massive open online course (MOOC) on microbiome science.
To improve public and academic understanding of microbiome functions and their implications.
To promote informed decision-making for sustainable health and environmental stewardship.

Main Methods:

Developed a six-unit MOOC titled 'Microbiome & Health'.
Course content covers microbiome basics, methods, human/plant microbiomes, antibiotic resistance, and environmental impacts.
Aligned course with One Health concept and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Offered course via iMooX.at and YouTube.

Main Results:

Achieved 73.2% external participation with above-average completion rates.
Demonstrated increased microbiology literacy among participants.
Integration into university courses improved student performance, reversing declining grades.

Conclusions:

The 'Microbiome & Health' MOOC effectively enhances microbiology literacy for the public and academia.
The course supports informed decision-making for sustainable health and environmental practices.
It has the potential to drive microbiome-based innovations in biotechnology.