Does Host Physiology Influence The Gut Microbiome?

The relationship between the human gut microbiome to health and disease is strong. Human physiology, metabolism, nutrition, and immune function are all affected by the composition of the gut. If the composition of the gut microbiome is altered in a way that any of these functions are negatively affected, this can lead to disease. The developments of the microbiome, its complexity, and its functionality in health and disease have been extensively studied. In addition, the way in which it is altered has many implications in the cause of diseases, such as bowel disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer.

The gut microbiome supplies the human host with metabolic capabilities beyond those encoded by its own genome (Khan et al., 2014). Because host metabolism is effectively regulated by the amalgamation of host and microbial genes (Khan et al., 2014), we should expect the gut microbiota to play a fundamental role in the health of its host. A compendium of research evidence demonstrates a compelling link between obesity and gut microbial composition. The connection between obesity and the gut microbiota is illustrated in the effects of diet on microbial diversity, the association of host genotype with microbial plasticity, the correlation of microbial diversity and metabolic disease, and the modulation of host metabolism by gut

The gut microbiota is extremely diverse – consisting of over 1,000 identified unique species of bacteria. It is indeed difficult to wrap one’s head around it – despite bacteria being microscopically small, and having an undetectable mass, the bacteria of the gut in a human can weigh over 2 pounds! This incredibly diverse mass of bacteria is also mostly unique on an individual basis – over 70% of the bacteria per gut are unique to each person [1]. Thus, the gut microbiota of each individual can effectively function as a unique source of identity.

There are trillions of microorganisms living within us, greatly outnumbering our cells and genes. They are found in our skin, hair, membranes, mucous membranes and gastrointestinal tracts. Collectively these microorganisms are called our microbiota. Every individual has a unique microbiota, kind of like a fingerprint, but usually share similar metabolic functions. A vast majority of these are harmless and even beneficial to us, these are referred to as commensals. There are many bacterial commensals, that have co-evolved with us for centuries, making it possible for our bodies to properly function. Commensals benefit us by synthesizing vitamins and minerals, digest foods we alone cannot, regulate immunity, detox the body, protect against infections, and reduce inflammation. While there

In 2007, the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) was begun by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to obtain a better comprehension of the sophisticated biological reactions between the microbiome and individuals. By utilizing of revolutionary culture-independent technology, the specialists in the HMP plan to accomplish two key points: to test the microbial communities found at many various locations in the human body and to examine the function of these microbes in mankind 's health and diseases (Scher and Abramson, 2011). It has become obvious that bacteria groups vary not only among people but also within the human being, upon on the body site sampled and the sampling time (Pineda et al. 2011; Huttenhower C, 2012). In this review, I will review the role of the microbiome in the development and progression of

Over two-thirds of adults, or nearly 69 percent are considered overweight or obese. Of those, more than one-third are considered to be obese, while more than 1 in 20 are classified with extreme obesity.1 The main causes of these overwhelming rates of overweight and obesity are all too familiar: an unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle and to a lesser extent perhaps genes play a role as well. In recent years, however, researchers have become increasingly focused on a potential additional contributor to the obesity epidemic that lives inside us all: billions and billions of gut microbes or microbiota.2

Bacteria, fungi, viruses and other organisms that make up the digestive system of our body actually outnumber the quantity of our cells. Over time research has made clear that these small organisms play a very important role in our health - both physically and mentally. All these microbes that inhabit our body are called microbiome, and they are estimated to weigh between two to six pounds. Most of these microbes live in our gut and intestines and they help us digest food, incorporate vitamins, and fight infections. Recent studies have revealed that bacteria in our digestive system not only affect our physical health, but it also plays a major role in our mental health. Gut microbiome has been linked to a range of complex behaviors, such

A number of studies, predominantly conducted in mice, have established a link between gut microbiota and obesity and have documented that a change in gut bacteria can have an effect on body weight. A 2004 study by Bäckhed et al. study was one of the earliest studies done on this topic and provided some of the first evidence that gut microbiota may play a role in energy balance and subsequently obesity.6 Conventionally raised mice were fed a polysaccharide rich diet and gained 40% more weight than germ-free mice fed the same diet.6 When gut bacteria from the conventionally raised mice was transplanted into the germ-free mice, the germ-free mice experienced a 60% weight gain in 2 weeks despite reduced food intake.6 Researchers attribute the weight

Is the key to disease prevention, treatment, and longevity found within us? For many illnesses pervading in American society today, our bodies may hold the answer. Each individual human has more than 100 trillion bacterial cells in their gastrointestinal tract. The commensal and mutualistic relationship between this multitude of bacteria and their host has been seen to prevent and treat disease, as well as provide insight to a long, healthy life (Koboziev, 2014). The diversity of these microorganisms and their relative abundance within the gastrointestinal tract provides protection against disease and metabolism of food (Nicholson, 2012). Due to the great diversity in gut microbiota, the composition can serve as a biological fingerprint (Sunagawa, 2013). Any significant change in an individual’s gut

Compared to our understanding of most microbiota living on and in humans, our understanding of our gut flora is relatively well developed. It is also an area where it is "common knowledge" that there are microorganisms

Gut microbiota changes in our body from birth to old age. The fetal intestinal tract is sterile until birth, after which the newborn tract begins to be colonized. Infants are exposed to a great variety of microorganisms from different environments during and immediately after birth, either in their encounter with their maternal vagina or by the cutaneous microorganisms depending on the type of delivery. Infants have lower intestinal bacteria counters with less diversity in the early weeks of life. Different method of feeding influences the microbiota. Until 2-3 years old, microbiota become similar to the adult microbiota. After that, it becomes stable until old age. Genetic factors such as obesity influence the development of gut microbiota.

Horses are monogstric animals with a relatively small stomach. From the horse’s mouth to their large intestine, their gastrointestinal tract is similar to that of a human’s. However, past the cecum, a horse’s gastrointestinal tract has more similarities to that of a cow’s (Bentz, 2014). Horses are classified as hindgut fermenters, meaning a balance of good and bad bacteria aid in the digestion of foodstuff in the cecum and large intestine (Costa et al., 2012). The hindgut is not only a fermentation vat, but it also stimulates the immune response, protects against pathogens, production and neutralization of toxins, and gene expression in the host’s epithelial tissues (Milinovich et al., 2010). The cecal microbiome

Smith et al. investigated the importance that the role of gut microbiota and diet that cause and exaggerate kwashiorkor, a severe form of malnutrition, in both monozygotic and dizygotic twins from Malawi, a country in Africa. The study tested twins, one that was well-nourished and one that was discordant, to evaluate changes in the bacteria of the gut while changing their diet, and the study also investigated the effect of fecal transplants to gnotobiotic mice to see how the gut microbiota along with the Malawian diet contribute to kwashiorkor by looking at the bacteria present before and after transplantation. The research is treated as a baseline study, and the authors hope that the results of the study can eventually be expanded to

However, the current focus of microbial ecology is on characterizing simple community properties such as alpha & beta diversity, relative abundance, and phylogenetic or taxonomic overlap (Baberan, Casamayor & Fierer, 2011). Here, we aim to move past species inventories and abundance data towards understanding species interactions using a network approach, allowing us to characterize the ubiquitous building blocks of pharynx community common to all subjects of our study. Like macro-communities, fundamental ecological processes such as niche selection, dispersal or drift, play part in the formation and stability of the human microbiome. By using microbial communities as model systems, characterizing their ecological properties, assembly mechanisms and community dynamics, we can gain deeper

Biodiversity is also known as the biological diversity. Biodiversity refers to all kinds of organism that can be found in a particular area.it includes a variety of plants, animals, fungi and other living things. Biodiversity of an ecosystem, is a community of animals, plants, and living things in relationship to their environment, which can be physical or chemical. Microbial diversity can be defined as the different kinds of microorganism which includes bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protists. The study of microorganism is important because they play a large role in thce environment. Although microorganism are not well known, which might be due to their small size, and the hardship of recognizing them. Particularly bacteria and other prokaryotic organisms. Only 3100 bacteria are recognized in Bergey’s manual out of 300000 to 1000000 species of prokaryotes that is on earth. Bacteria although mostly thought of has been harmful can also be useful. Some microbes help in immune system regulation, digestion, and vitamin production.” (7). They are also helpful in some of the cycles that take place, like the nitrogen fixation, nitrification and nitrate reduction. They control what the atmosphere is made of and also,