The gut microbiota and host health: a new clinical frontier.
Over the last 10-15 years, our understanding of the composition and functions of the human gut microbiota has increased exponentially. To a large extent, this has been due to new 'omic' technologies that have facilitated large-scale analysis of the genetic and metabolic profile of this microbial community, revealing it to be comparable in influence to a new organ in the body and offering the possibility of a new route for therapeutic intervention. Moreover, it might be more accurate to think of it like an immune system: a collection of cells that work in unison with the host and that can promote health but sometimes initiate disease. This review gives an update on the current knowledge in the area of gut disorders, in particular metabolic syndrome and obesity-related disease, liver disease, IBD and colorectal cancer. The potential of manipulating the gut microbiota in these disorders is assessed, with an examination of the latest and most relevant evidence relating to antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, polyphenols and faecal microbiota transplantation.
School of Biosciences, Museum Avenue, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK Centre for Digestive and Gut Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Julian R
JR
Marchesi
NIHR Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Liver Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
David H
DH
Adams
Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Group, Department of Food Quality and Nutrition, Research and Innovation Centre, Trento, Italy.
Francesca
F
Fava
Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Gerben D A
GD
Hermes
NIHR Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Liver Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Gideon M
GM
Hirschfield
Division of Applied Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Aberdeen, UK.
Georgina
G
Hold
NIHR Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Liver Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Mohammed Nabil
MN
Quraishi
Section of Computational and Systems Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
James
J
Kinross
Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Hauke
H
Smidt
Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Group, Department of Food Quality and Nutrition, Research and Innovation Centre, Trento, Italy.
Kieran M
KM
Tuohy
Yakult UK Limited, Middlesex, UK.
Linda V
LV
Thomas
Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Erwin G
EG
Zoetendal
IBD Unit, St Mark's Hospital and Imperial College London, London, UK.
Ailsa
A
Hart
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000382:microbiology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000382:microbiology; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000502:physiology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000382:microbiology; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000382:microbiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000378:metabolism; D019449:Pouchitis / Q000382:microbiology; D056692:Prebiotics; D019936:Probiotics
D059808:Polyphenols; D056692:Prebiotics
INTESTINAL BACTERIA