Compositional and functional features of the gastrointestinal microbiome and their effects on human health.
The human gastrointestinal tract contains distinct microbial communities that differ in composition and function based on their location, as well as age, sex, race/ethnicity, and diet of their host. We describe the bacterial taxa present in different locations of the GI tract, and their specific metabolic features. The distinct features of these specific microbial communities might affect human health and disease. Several bacterial taxa and metabolic modules (biochemical functions) have been associated with human health and the absence of disease. Core features of the healthy microbiome might be defined and targeted to prevent disease and optimize human health.
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas.
Emily B
EB
Hollister
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas; Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Chunxu
C
Gao
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas; Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: jamesv@bcm.edu.
James
J
Versalovic
D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D056186:Metagenomics; D064307:Microbiota / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors
Gastrointestinal; HMP; Lumen; Metagenomics; Microbe; Mucosa