title: Diversity of the human intestinal microbial flora.
abstract: The human endogenous intestinal microflora is an essential "organ" in providing nourishment, regulating epithelial development, and instructing innate immunity; yet, surprisingly, basic features remain poorly described. We examined 13,355 prokaryotic ribosomal RNA gene sequences from multiple colonic mucosal sites and feces of healthy subjects to improve our understanding of gut microbial diversity. A majority of the bacterial sequences corresponded to uncultivated species and novel microorganisms. We discovered significant intersubject variability and differences between stool and mucosa community composition. Characterization of this immensely diverse ecosystem is the first step in elucidating its role in health and disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Room S-169, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford CA 94305-5107, USA. eckburg1@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Eckburg
authors.forename: Elisabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bik
authors.forename: Charles N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Purdom
authors.forename: Les
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dethlefsen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Relman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D041963:Bacteroidetes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D044822:Biodiversity; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D017753:Ecosystem; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D019766:Genes, Archaeal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D041581:Methanobrevibacter / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S