Gut Bacteria

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.

There are major effects in the United States and Europe to help identify the role of microbial communities in the human body. The colon requires a balance of microbial agents that assist with various functions of the body. An imbalance can lead to C.diff., irritable bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), neurological disorders, and obesity just to list a few. Many of these problems have grown to an epidemic proportion. Both the United States and Europe have started projects aimed at the microbial communities of the body and their roles in our health.

The use of the first form of microbe-based therapeutics, probiotics, is beneficial for preventing disease. These live microorganisms are known to strengthen the equilibrium of the gut flora by the development of healthy gut

The effect of different diets on the gut microbiome has been studied greatly in mice and to a lesser extent in humans to assess the effect that dietary composition has on the gut micro-biome. It has been suggested that increased efficiency of energy harvest due to changes in the gut microbiota with an increase in Firmicutes and decrease Bacteroidetes bacteria, occurs in obesity in mice and humans.4 A study performed by Murphy et al looked at the effect of a high-fat (HF) diet and genetic obesity (ob/ob) for changes in gut microbiota and the amount of energy harvested from food over time.4 Ob/ob mice were fed a low-fat diet and wild-type mice were fed either a low-fat or HF-diet for 8 weeks. Results indicated an increase in Firmicutes bacteria in both mice fed a HF diet as well as ob/ob mice, but Firmicutes bacteria did not change over time in the lean control mice. A reduction in Bacteroidetes bacteria was also found in ob/ob mice.4

Studies have identified different genera of bacteria which are present in the microbiome and their role in nutrient intake. Gut microbiota has 3 main enterotypes Prevotella, Bacteroides and Ruminococcus, there is a strong correlation between the concentration of each bacterial community and the dietary constituents. A diet high in carbohydrates and simple sugars would also indicate and reveal a greater concentration of Prevotella whereas a diet high in protein and animal fats would present a higher concentration of Bacteroides in the gut. A long term change in the diet would permanently shift the concentration of bacteria in the gut to accommodate the new nutrient uptake. This would then change the bacterial barrier in the intestine which could make it more vulnerable due to reduced species richness.

Physiological books—specifically those about the gut microbiota and the importance of the digestive system—took up the most rows in my mental library due to the fact that I can use their knowledge to positively impact countless lives, starting with the ones closest to home. I grew up allergic to pollen, dust, peanuts, oatmeal, and even penicillin. My mother has an issue with Helicobacter pylori in her stomach and cholesterol levels. My father is genetically predisposed towards high blood pressure. Through these books, I gained a better understanding of the biological human; specifically, I learned about how central the digestive system is to the body, not only by providing nutrients but also, through its resident bacteria, by regulating immune function. Through learning more about this expansive mass, I can help my loved ones change their lifestyle and dietary habits to improve their

These complex communities play an important role in health and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. The microbiota living symbiotically with their host are generally non-pathogenic and have evolved with humans in order to combat colonization by harmful bacteria while extracting energy from non-digestible polysaccharides. There are many factors that contribute to the stability of the gut microbiome. Typically, the gut microbiome is established at birth and differs with mode of delivery (vaginally vs. cesarean) [7,9]. Therefore, the manner in which a child is born influences the composition of bacteria. Other factors include host environment, genetics and lifestyle, the latter of which is the focus of this proposal [8,16]. The gut flora are beneficial to humans as they provide essential nutrients while also acting as an adaptive immune system [7, 23]. Research has suggested that antigens released from gut microbiota can be absorbed and infiltrate adipose tissue, thereby worsening chronic inflammation and oxidative stress associated with obesity [23]. Therefore, identifying the specific microbiome of an individual can be diagnostic of metabolic disorders [8] and may contribute to impaired endothelium-mediated

Scientists are beginning to recognize the link between gut microbiota and inflammation and the role it plays in the pathogenesis of obesity-related disorders like diabetes (type two). Using animals, scientists have been able to link obesity models of a microbiota composition that is different than what is expected when observed for obesity development and insulin resistance. This means that this altered microbiota composition is linked to the development of obesity and insulin resistance. This can be seen through multiple mechanisms, including “increased energy harvest from the diet, altered fatty acid metabolism and composition in adipose tissue and liver, modulation of the gut peptide YY and glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 secretion, activation of the lipopolysaccharide toll-like receptor-4 axis, and modulation of the intestinal barrier integrity by GLP-2”. It is imperative to understand the mechanisms that regulate gut microbiota compositions that produce these various compositions. During infancy, several factors that can affect the gut microbiota include delivery mode, type of feeding, hospitalization, and possible prematurity. The use of antibiotics and the infant’s diet are also becoming increasingly recognized as factors that can affect one’s susceptibility to developing type two diabetes. The typical Western diet has played a significant role in

It is clear that the role of the gut bacteria to our fitness cannot be underestimated; however, one may argue that complexity of this topic still does not reform our

One study showed gut bacteria may help with the development of insulin resistance. It also supported a connection between diabetes and gut bacteria. Ongoing research is being done to find out if a person's gut bacteria is related to insulin resistance and diabetes and how it works.

The word microbiota represents an ensemble of microorganisms that reside in a previously established environment; humans have microbiota throughout many different areas of the body, not exclusively the gut (Gut Microbiota). Our gut is full of trillions of different species of bacteria that is used and necessary for many different functions. Each bacteria is used for a variety of different functions. They are used to help digest certain food that the human body cannot alone and it plays an important role in the immune system (Gut Microbiota). Many people do not understand the concept of having such as vast amount of bacteria in their gut, let alone the importance of its presence to their

Enteric infections are often caused by foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli. The impact these pathogens have on the human body can depend on their pathogenicity and possibly even the hosts’ resident intestinal microbiome. The research aim was therefore to evaluate the possible effects the intestinal microbiome could have on susceptibility to and recovery from enteric infections. By evaluating the microbial compositions present in faecal samples of patients with enteric infections and their uninfected family members by DNA sequencing, the authors discovered levels of the microbes Proteobacteria were higher in infected persons while levels of the microbes Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were lower in uninfected persons. Future

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

Symbiosis is defined as the physical interaction between two different organisms in a mutually beneficial relationship. In other words, it is the coexistence of two different species in an environment where the existence of one benefits the other. Several studies have been performed on different species but the gut microbiome is probably one of the most extensively studied examples of a symbiotic relationship. The gut microbiome, also known as the gut flora, is an ensemble of microorganisms that exist in the gut and help in the digestion process of the organism in which it exists. The gut microbiome evolves in the gut throughout the lifecycle of the organism and is altered by several environmental factors. Its composition is unique to every individual and any loss of balance in them may result in health problems.

Antibiotics have been shown to significantly change the makeup of the gut microbiota and in general lead to gut bacteria with less diversity.12 It is well-known that antibiotics can cause short-term alterations in gut microbiota, however the long-term effects have not been well documented. Jernberg et al. analyzed the long-term effects of a 7 day antibiotic treatment on fecal microbiota and found significant disruption in the gut bacteria, most notably a decrease in the number of Bacteroidetes bacteria.12 In fact, the Bacteroidetes bacteria never returned to its original numbers, indicating that even after short-term antibiotics have ended, long-term impacts on gut microbiota continue to persist.12 Similarly, results of a study conducted by Dethlefsin and Relman indicated that gut bacteria was quickly changed with exposure to antibiotics. After 10 months the makeup of gut bacteria stabilized but remained in an altered state.18