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.
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.
Gut microbiome is one of the densest, most dynamic, and complex microorganism populations located in the body (Costa et al., 2012). Gut microbes act against transient pathogens, aid in digestion and absorption, stimulate the immune system, and support enteroctyes (Suchodoiski et al., 2012). Gut microbiome population differs between species, individuals, and organs (Fraga et al., 2011). It is noted that there are one billion microbes from one drop of cecal fluid, consisting of anaerobic microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and archae (Fraga et al., 2012). If these microbes are changed, this could result in gastrointestinal disease and even death. Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficle, Escherichia coli general and K-12, and Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex (SBEC) are common bacteria found in the microbiome of the hindgut. These strains are considered opportunistic bacteria, and if the immune system becomes compromised by changes to the hindgut microbiome, this will trigger proliferation of harmful and opportunistic bacteria that can cause numerous gastrointestinal
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
However throughout the months via contact from relatives and outings the microbiome diversifies and there is competition for space. The bacteria begin to specialize and differentiate to become more adapted to their environment; the bacteria present on skin would be more suited to dry conditions than the gut which is wet and moist. The gut microbiome would also be more specialized in absorbing nutrients. As babies drink breast milk they would obtain bacteria from their mother and thus they would have a different gut biome to a baby who was fed formula milk as well as the introduction of solid foods would cause the microbiome to
The human gut microbiota has become the subject of researches in recent years and our knowledge of the resident species and their potential functional capacity is rapidly growing. Our gut harbors a complex community of over 100 trillion microbial cells. Therefore, our gut microbiota evolves with us and plays a pivotal role in human health and disease. This has clear effects on physiologic, immunologic, and metabolic processes in human health, aberrations in the gut microbiome and intestinal homeostasis have the capacity for multisystem effects. Changes in microbial composition are implicated in the increasing for a broad range of inflammatory diseases, such as allergic disease, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, and associated
Asparagus is yet another prebiotic-rich food that supports the development of good gut bacteria and defends the body against the bad ones.. Plus, this vegetable rich is high in fiber that supports regularity and decreases bloating. Asparagus is an all-around great addition to your diet thanks to its chlorophyll content that boost immune
As much as science likes to research the universe to figure out its mysteries, there is an equal fascination with the human body. Studies come out every other day it seems to show the public their findings on some new behavior or phenomenon about our own bodies.
looked at pairs of twins, each with one lean and one obese twin, and colonized mice with fecal bacteria from each twin.9 Results showed that mice with bacteria from obese twins grew fat (15-17% more), while those with bacteria from the lean twins stayed lean.9 These differences could be explained by differences in fermentation of short-chain fatty acids (which increased in the mice with the lean bacteria) and metabolism of branched-chain amino acids (which increased in mice with bacteria from obese twins).9 After colonization, the mice were put in the same cage and bacteria from the lean twins took over in the mice that started out with bacteria from the obese twins. This resulted in weight loss and the correction of metabolic abnormalities.9 Overall these studies suggest that individuals who are obese have more Firmicutes compared with Bacteroidetes bacteria in their gut but, also that gut microbiota is easily altered. Additionally, gut microbiota is able to influence metabolism and that through dietary and lifestyle changes, gut microbiota of those who used to be obese can become similar to those of lean
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 surely not uncommon to see people carry around different kinds of disinfectant sprays and other chemical products in order to reduce the amount of bacteria and germs on their skin and in their body. However, the fact is that distal human intestine represents “an anaerobic bioreactor programmed with an enormous population of bacteria.” The study was conducted in order to assess the influence of microbiota on the energy storage in mice raised without exposure to any microorganisms compared to the control group that had acquired a microbiota since birth. The study showed that the control group of mice acquired 40% more total body fat than their germ free counterparts, despite the fact that the control group consumed less food per day. This came as a result of microbiota that provide us with genetic and metabolic attributes we have not acquired in our own evolutionary process, such as the ability to harvest otherwise inaccessible nutrients. Coming back to Elizabeth Willson’s contention, study of the microstructure, in this case the gut microbiota, has had a reorganizing effect on how we view our bodies and forced us put greater value to the role of microorganisms in our own survival.
Ultimately, the foods people eat can influence the gut bacteria they develop. Healthy gut bacteria in the intestinal tract can help the body digest and absorb essential nutrients and vitamins as well as combat toxins. Good gut bacteria can boost the immune system and help regulate
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
The article’s main focus was on the gut microbiome, whilst incorporating its relevance to precision medicine. By analyzing the microbiomes composition and function, the near future could include personalized patient-specific diagnostics and therapeutics. Microbiome research entails the complex ecosystem of microorganisms who reside on or within the human body whose genome outnumbers that of the host and effects physiological functions. Though this research marks progression, there are limitations and challenges presented by the fact that there is variability among individuals. Overall, the research concerning the second genome, or gut microbiome, is altering medicine for the better.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; most healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) such as staph or MERSA are dropping except for one: Clostridium difficile infections or CDI which causes an estimated 14,000 diarrhea related deaths in America each year. Clostridium difficile is a gram positive, anaerobic bacteria that can produce exotoxins, form spores and is beginning to show increased resistance to antimicrobial treatment. Symptoms of CDI include watery diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal tenderness (CDC 2011). The usual treatment for CDI is first to cease use of any antibiotics that first may have caused the CDI. If symptoms do not improve, then a stronger course of antibiotics is usually done but CDI has a high rate of reoccurrence. In a double-blind, randomized trial comparing the efficacy of fidaxomicin vs. vancomycin in treating CDI the reoccurrence rate was 15.4% for fidaxomicin and 25.3 for% for vancomycin (Louie et al. 2011). There is, however, a solution with a cure rate upwards of 90% with no chance of increasing antimicrobial resistance; the fecal microbial transplant (FMT). A fecal microbial transplant involves taking a fresh stool sample from donors screened for transmissible disease and parasite infection, diluting it with sterile saline or milk and administering via nasoduodenal tube or enema (van Nood et al. 20013). The donor may be any healthy, medically screened adult, either an unrelated stranger or a family
Food such as peanuts and shellfish can lead to a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Immbalance is a new drug is being researched and developed to prevent asthma and allergies. The treatment restores balance to the immune system and reduces allergic responses. The drug relied on the immune properties of Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which is located in the human gut to reduce the allergic responses down into the normal range. This discovery came from studies showed that 45% reduction in allergies and asthma in children infected with Helicobacter.