title: The esophageal microbiota in health and disease.
abstract: The esophageal mucosa is among the sites colonized by human microbiota, the complex microbial ecosystem that colonizes various body surfaces and is increasingly recognized to play roles in several physiological and pathological processes. Our understanding of the composition of the esophageal microbiota in health and disease is challenged by the need for invasive sampling procedures and by the dynamic nature of the esophageal environment and remains limited in comparison with the information available for other body sites. Members of the genus Streptococcus appear to be the major components of the microbiota of the healthy esophagus, although the presence of several other taxa has also been reported. Dysbiosis, consisting of enrichment in some Gram-negative taxa (including Veillonella, Prevotella, Haemophilus, Neisseria, Campylobacter, and Fusobacterium), has been reported in association with gastroesophageal reflux disease and is hypothesized to contribute to the evolution of this condition toward Barrett's esophagus (which is the most common esophageal precancerous lesion) and, eventually, adenocarcinoma. Some Campylobacter species (mostly C. concisus) are also putatively involved in the progression of disease toward adenocarcinoma. However, variable findings have recently been reported in additional studies. Causative relationships between dysbiosis or specific bacterial species and esophageal diseases remain controversial and warrant further investigations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. vdipilato@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Pilato
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.|Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Freschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.|Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Novella
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Ringressi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pallecchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.|Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.|Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.|Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rossolini
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.|Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bechi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Barrett's esophagus; esophageal adenocarcinoma; esophageal diseases; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; esophagitis; microbiota