These microbes are believed to prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria by competing for nutrients and attachment sites to the mucus membranes of the gut, a major site of immune activity and production of antimicrobial proteins. In the colon, a low oxygen environment, you will find the anaerobic bacteria Peptostreptococcus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Clostridium. Large families of bacteria found in the human gut include Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides, and Firmicutes. The microbiota of a healthy person will also provide protection from pathogenic organisms that enter the body such as through drinking or eating contaminated water or food. Clinical studies have shown that SCFA may be useful in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The fermentation of indigestible fibers causes the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) that can be used by the body as a nutrient source but also play an important role in muscle function and possibly the prevention of chronic diseases, including certain cancers and bowel disorders. There, the microbiota help to break down these compounds with their digestive enzymes. Sugars like table sugar and lactose (milk sugar) are quickly absorbed in the upper part of the small intestine, but more complex carbohydrates like starches and fibers are not as easily digested and may travel lower to the large intestine.
For example, the key enzymes needed to form vitamin B12 are only found in bacteria, not in plants and animals. Microbiota stimulate the immune system, break down potentially toxic food compounds, and synthesize certain vitamins and amino acids, including the B vitamins and vitamin K. As a result, the body may become more susceptible to disease. But if there is a disturbance in that balance-brought on by infectious illnesses, certain diets, or the prolonged use of antibiotics or other bacteria-destroying medications-dysbiosis occurs, stopping these normal interactions. In a healthy body, pathogenic and symbiotic microbiota coexist without problems. Most are symbiotic (where both the human body and microbiota benefit) and some, in smaller numbers, are pathogenic (promoting disease). The microbiome consists of microbes that are both helpful and potentially harmful. Later on, environmental exposures and diet can change one’s microbiome to be either beneficial to health or place one at greater risk for disease.
Exactly which microorganisms the infant is exposed to depends solely on the species found in the mother. A person is first exposed to microorganisms as an infant, during delivery in the birth canal and through the mother’s breast milk. The microbiome is even labeled a supporting organ because it plays so many key roles in promoting the smooth daily operations of the human body.Įach person has an entirely unique network of microbiota that is originally determined by one’s DNA.
In a healthy person, these “bugs” coexist peacefully, with the largest numbers found in the small and large intestines but also throughout the body. These include not only bacteria but fungi, parasites, and viruses. Now imagine this at a microscopic level and you have an idea of what the microbiome looks like inside our bodies, consisting of trillions of microorganisms (also called microbiota or microbes) of thousands of different species. Picture a bustling city on a weekday morning, the sidewalks flooded with people rushing to get to work or to appointments. Future areas of research What is the microbiome?
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