title: [The microbiotics of the human body].
abstract: --Our bodies are home to complex microbial communities. --In most samples, a greater microbial diversity is revealed by using culture-independent, molecular techniques than by conventional methods. --The composition of the human-associated microbiota differs in each individual, and at each anatomical site within an individual. --The intestinal colonization of newborn infants seems to be driven by environmental factors and random processes, rather than by the composition of the parent's microbial communities. --A set of fraternal twins showed almost identical microbial communities. --Investigating the composition of the human-associated microbiota will enable us to better understand the role of commensals in health and disease.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. eliesbik@stanford.edu
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans