title: Ecosystems: development, functions and consequences of disturbances, with special reference to the oral cavity.
abstract: Some general rules for the development and maintenance of microbial ecosystems are outlined. Studies on germ-free animals have given valuable baselines concerning structures and functions in the host per se. The oral cavity represents several consortia of micro-organisms, governed by factors deriving from the host, the diet and/or the micro-organisms. Alterations in these factors, as well as intake of antibiotics, etc., may give disturbances, which can be analyzed according to general guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbial Ecology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Midtvedt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D004463:Ecology; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*