title: Gut ecosystem: how microbes help us.
abstract: The human gut houses one of the most complex and abundant ecosystems composed of up to 1013-1014 microorganisms. Although the anthropocentric concept of life has concealed the function of microorganisms inside us, the important role of gut bacterial community in human health is well recognised today. Moreover, different microorganims, which are commonly present in a large diversity of food products, transit through our gut every day adding in some cases a beneficial effect to our health (probiotics). This crosstalk is concentrated mainly in the intestinal epithelium, where microbes provide the host with essential nutrients and modulation of the immune system. Furthermore, microorganisms also display antimicrobial activities maintaining a gut ecosystem stable. This review summarises some of the recent findings on the interaction of both commensal and probiotic bacteria with each other and with the host. The aim is to highlight the cooperative status found in healthy individuals as well as the importance of this crosstalk in the maintenance of human homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR1319 Micalis, Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France AgroParisTech, UMR Micalis, Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR1319 Micalis, Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France AgroParisTech, UMR Micalis, Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miquel
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR1319 Micalis, Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France AgroParisTech, UMR Micalis, Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ulmer
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR1319 Micalis, Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France AgroParisTech, UMR Micalis, Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langella
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR1319 Micalis, Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France AgroParisTech, UMR Micalis, Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Bermúdez-Humarán
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002087:Butyrates / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D064307:Microbiota / Q000276:immunology*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D019936:Probiotics; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002087:Butyrates
keywords: crosstalk bacteria-host; human health; immunomodulation; microbiota