Role of the normal gut microbiota.
Relation between the gut microbiota and human health is being increasingly recognised. It is now well established that a healthy gut flora is largely responsible for overall health of the host. The normal human gut microbiota comprises of two major phyla, namely Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Though the gut microbiota in an infant appears haphazard, it starts resembling the adult flora by the age of 3 years. Nevertheless, there exist temporal and spatial variations in the microbial distribution from esophagus to the rectum all along the individual's life span. Developments in genome sequencing technologies and bioinformatics have now enabled scientists to study these microorganisms and their function and microbe-host interactions in an elaborate manner both in health and disease. The normal gut microbiota imparts specific function in host nutrient metabolism, xenobiotic and drug metabolism, maintenance of structural integrity of the gut mucosal barrier, immunomodulation, and protection against pathogens. Several factors play a role in shaping the normal gut microbiota. They include (1) the mode of delivery (vaginal or caesarean); (2) diet during infancy (breast milk or formula feeds) and adulthood (vegan based or meat based); and (3) use of antibiotics or antibiotic like molecules that are derived from the environment or the gut commensal community. A major concern of antibiotic use is the long-term alteration of the normal healthy gut microbiota and horizontal transfer of resistance genes that could result in reservoir of organisms with a multidrug resistant gene pool.
Sai Manasa Jandhyala, Rupjyoti Talukdar, Chivkula Subramanyam, Harish Vuyyuru, Mitnala Sasikala, Department of Gastroenterology, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Asian Healthcare Foundation, Hyderabad 500082, India.
Sai Manasa
SM
Jandhyala
Sai Manasa Jandhyala, Rupjyoti Talukdar, Chivkula Subramanyam, Harish Vuyyuru, Mitnala Sasikala, Department of Gastroenterology, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Asian Healthcare Foundation, Hyderabad 500082, India.
Rupjyoti
R
Talukdar
Sai Manasa Jandhyala, Rupjyoti Talukdar, Chivkula Subramanyam, Harish Vuyyuru, Mitnala Sasikala, Department of Gastroenterology, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Asian Healthcare Foundation, Hyderabad 500082, India.
Chivkula
C
Subramanyam
Sai Manasa Jandhyala, Rupjyoti Talukdar, Chivkula Subramanyam, Harish Vuyyuru, Mitnala Sasikala, Department of Gastroenterology, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Asian Healthcare Foundation, Hyderabad 500082, India.
Harish
H
Vuyyuru
Sai Manasa Jandhyala, Rupjyoti Talukdar, Chivkula Subramanyam, Harish Vuyyuru, Mitnala Sasikala, Department of Gastroenterology, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Asian Healthcare Foundation, Hyderabad 500082, India.
Mitnala
M
Sasikala
Sai Manasa Jandhyala, Rupjyoti Talukdar, Chivkula Subramanyam, Harish Vuyyuru, Mitnala Sasikala, Department of Gastroenterology, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Asian Healthcare Foundation, Hyderabad 500082, India.
D
D
Nageshwar Reddy
D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D041963:Bacteroidetes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019295:Computational Biology; D004032:Diet; D000068536:Bacillota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects; D006304:Health Status; D006706:Homeostasis; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D056692:Prebiotics; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058616:Synbiotics
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D056692:Prebiotics
Bioinformatics; Health; Immunomodulation; Metabolic function; Normal gut microbiota