scholarly journals The gut microbiome: the role of a virtual organ in the endocrinology of the host

2013 ◽  
Vol 218 (3) ◽  
pp. R37-R47 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M Evans ◽  
Laura S Morris ◽  
Julian R Marchesi
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Human Microbiome ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Vast Array

The human microbiome contains a vast array of microbes and genes that show greater complexity than the host's own karyome; the functions of many of these microbes are beneficial and show co-evolution with the host, while others are detrimental. The microbiota that colonises the gut is now being considered as a virtual organ or emergent system, with properties that need to be integrated into host biology and physiology. Unlike other organs, the functions that the gut microbiota plays in the host are as yet not fully understood and can be quite easily disrupted by antibiotics, diet or surgery. In this review, we look at some of the best-characterised functions that only the gut microbiota plays and how it interacts with the host's endocrine system and we try to make it clear that the 21st-century biology cannot afford to ignore this facet of biology, if it wants to fully understand what makes us human.

scholarly journals Guild-based analysis for understanding gut microbiome in human health and diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guojun Wu ◽  
Naisi Zhao ◽  
Chenhong Zhang ◽  
Yan Y. Lam ◽  
Liping Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Causative Role ◽  
Disease Phenotypes ◽  
Genetic Complexity ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
Specific Health

AbstractTo demonstrate the causative role of gut microbiome in human health and diseases, we first need to identify, via next-generation sequencing, potentially important functional members associated with specific health outcomes and disease phenotypes. However, due to the strain-level genetic complexity of the gut microbiota, microbiome datasets are highly dimensional and highly sparse in nature, making it challenging to identify putative causative agents of a particular disease phenotype. Members of an ecosystem seldomly live independently from each other. Instead, they develop local interactions and form inter-member organizations to influence the ecosystem’s higher-level patterns and functions. In the ecological study of macro-organisms, members are defined as belonging to the same “guild” if they exploit the same class of resources in a similar way or work together as a coherent functional group. Translating the concept of “guild” to the study of gut microbiota, we redefine guild as a group of bacteria that show consistent co-abundant behavior and likely to work together to contribute to the same ecological function. In this opinion article, we discuss how to use guilds as the aggregation unit to reduce dimensionality and sparsity in microbiome-wide association studies for identifying candidate gut bacteria that may causatively contribute to human health and diseases.

scholarly journals Role of lung and gut microbiota on lung cancer pathogenesis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Zhao ◽  
Yuxia Liu ◽  
Shuang Li ◽  
Zhaoyun Peng ◽  
Xiantao Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Intestinal Flora ◽  
Inflammatory Factors ◽  
Cancer Pathogenesis ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Relationship Of

Abstract Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide (Ferlay et al., Int J Cancer 136:E359–386, 2015). In addition, lung cancer is associated with the highest mortality among all cancer types (Wu et al., Exp Ther Med 16:3004–3010, 2018). Previous studies report that microbiota play an important role in lung cancer. Notably, changes in lung and gut microbiota, are associated with progression of lung cancer. Several studies report that lung and gut microbiome promote lung cancer initiation and development by modulating metabolic pathways, inhibiting the function of immune cells, and producing pro-inflammatory factors. In addition, some factors such as microbiota dysbiosis, affect production of bacteriotoxins, genotoxicity and virulence effect, therefore, they play a key role in cancer progression. These findings imply that lung and gut microbiome are potential markers and targets for lung cancer. However, the role of microbiota in development and progression of lung cancer has not been fully explored. Purpose The aim of this study was to systemically review recent research findings on relationship of lung and gut microbiota with lung cancer. In addition, we explored gut–lung axis and potential mechanisms of lung and gut microbiota in modulating lung cancer progression. Conclusion Pulmonary and intestinal flora influence the occurrence, development, treatment and prognosis of lung cancer, and will provide novel strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer.

scholarly journals The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Liver Cirrhosis Treatment

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 199
Author(s):  
Na Young Lee ◽  
Ki Tae Suk
Keyword(s):  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Liver Diseases ◽  
Sclerosing Cholangitis ◽  
Chronic Liver ◽  
Chronic Liver Diseases

Liver cirrhosis is one of the most prevalent chronic liver diseases worldwide. In addition to viral hepatitis, diseases such as steatohepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis and Wilson’s disease can also lead to cirrhosis. Moreover, alcohol can cause cirrhosis on its own and exacerbate chronic liver disease of other causes. The treatment of cirrhosis can be divided into addressing the cause of cirrhosis and reversing liver fibrosis. To this date, there is still no clear consensus on the treatment of cirrhosis. Recently, there has been a lot of interest in potential treatments that modulate the gut microbiota and gut-liver axis for the treatment of cirrhosis. According to recent studies, modulation of the gut microbiome by probiotics ameliorates the progression of liver disease. The precise mechanism for relieving cirrhosis via gut microbial modulation has not been identified. This paper summarizes the role and effects of the gut microbiome in cirrhosis based on experimental and clinical studies on absorbable antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics. Moreover, it provides evidence of a relationship between the gut microbiome and liver fibrosis.

Gut Feeling

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S504-S505
Author(s):  
C. Cotta ◽  
G. Jesus ◽  
V. Vila Nova ◽  
C. Moreira
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Human Microbiome ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Scientific Databases ◽  
Antibiotic Drugs ◽  
Microbiome Research ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionThere is growing evidence of the importance of nutrition in mental disorders. Gut microbiota, influenced by environmental factors such as diet and stress, has been proposed as one of the players on a dynamic called gut-brain axis, which is thought to have an influence on behaviour and mental health.Objectives and aimsTo summarize recent evidence on the topic, and its potential role in psychiatric interventions.MethodsThe authors review updated literature collected from online scientific databases.ResultsThe development of the brain itself has been shown to be influenced by the gut microbiome. Research demonstrates that the composition of the microbiota has influence on behaviour through neuroendocrine and other neuroactive messengers production by the bacteria within the gut lumen. Studies in germ-free animals, animals exposed to bacterial infections, probiotic suplements or antibiotic drugs suggest a role for the gut microbiota in the regulation of anxiety, mood, cognition and pain. The gut microbiome has been implicated in brain disorders including anxiety and depression, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and autism.ConclusionsThe treatment of mental disorders is usually based on pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions, and little attention is given to dietary interventions. The emerging field of research focused on the human microbiome suggests an important role for the gut microbiota in influencing brain development, behaviour and mood in humans, and points new strategies for developing novel therapeutics for mental disorders.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Gut microbiome dysbiosis in anorexia nervosa

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 283-291
Author(s):  
Agata Janczy ◽  
Magdalena Landowska ◽  
Zdzisław Kochan
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Intestinal Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is described as an eating disorder, which is characterized by malnutrition, a fear of gaining body mass, and a disturbed self-body image. This disease is dependent on biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors. Among the various biological factors, the importance of intestinal microbiota has recently attracted much attention. Identification of the gut microbiota dysbiosis in patients with AN has opened new and promising research directions. Recent observations focus in particular on the association between intestinal microorganisms and the occurrence of functional gastrointestinal disorders associated with anorexia, anxiety and depression, as well as the regulation of eating habits. The composition of the gut microbiota differs between patients with AN and individuals with normal body mass. This is due to the incorrect diet of patients; on the other hand, there is growing interest in the role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of AN, its changes through re-nutrition practices, and in particular the modulation of intestinal microbiological composition by means of nutritional interventions or the use of preand probiotics as standard supplements therapy of eating disorders. There is a need for further research about the microbiome - intestine - brain axis. Furthermore, consequences of changes in dietary habits as part of AN treatment are also unknown. However, better knowledge about the relationship between the gut microbiome and the brain can help improve the treatment of this disorder. This review aims to present the current knowledge about the potential role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis, course and treatment of AN.

scholarly journals Role of Biological Sex in the Cardiovascular-Gut Microbiome Axis

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuangyue Li ◽  
Georgios Kararigas
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Biological Sex ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Host Health ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
And Function ◽  
Insight Into

There has been a recent, unprecedented interest in the role of gut microbiota in host health and disease. Technological advances have dramatically expanded our knowledge of the gut microbiome. Increasing evidence has indicated a strong link between gut microbiota and the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In the present article, we discuss the contribution of gut microbiota in the development and progression of CVD. We further discuss how the gut microbiome may differ between the sexes and how it may be influenced by sex hormones. We put forward that regulation of microbial composition and function by sex might lead to sex-biased disease susceptibility, thereby offering a mechanistic insight into sex differences in CVD. A better understanding of this could identify novel targets, ultimately contributing to the development of innovative preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for men and women.

scholarly journals The gut-microbiota-brain axis in autism: what Drosophila models can offer?

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Safa Salim ◽  
Ayesha Banu ◽  
Amira Alwa ◽  
Swetha B. M. Gowda ◽  
Farhan Mohammad
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Brain Disorders ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Drosophila Models

AbstractThe idea that alterations in gut-microbiome-brain axis (GUMBA)-mediated communication play a crucial role in human brain disorders like autism remains a topic of intensive research in various labs. Gastrointestinal issues are a common comorbidity in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although gut microbiome and microbial metabolites have been implicated in the etiology of ASD, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. In this review, we have summarized recent findings in human and animal models highlighting the role of the gut-brain axis in ASD. We have discussed genetic and neurobehavioral characteristics of Drosophila as an animal model to study the role of GUMBA in ASD. The utility of Drosophila fruit flies as an amenable genetic tool, combined with axenic and gnotobiotic approaches, and availability of transgenic flies may reveal mechanistic insight into gut-microbiota-brain interactions and the impact of its alteration on behaviors relevant to neurological disorders like ASD.

Role of the gut microbiota in airway immunity and host defense against respiratory infections

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maike Willers ◽  
Dorothee Viemann
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Host Defense ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Viral Pathogens ◽  
Commensal Microbiota ◽  
Enhanced Resistance ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Colonization of the intestine with commensal bacteria is known to play a major role in the maintenance of human health. An altered gut microbiome is associated with various ensuing diseases including respiratory diseases. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the impact of the gut microbiota on airway immunity with a focus on consequences for the host defense against respiratory infections. Specific gut commensal microbiota compositions and functions are depicted that mediate protection against respiratory infections with bacterial and viral pathogens. Lastly, we highlight factors that have imprinting effects on the establishment of the gut microbiota early in life and are potentially relevant in the context of respiratory infections. Deepening our understanding of these relationships will allow to exploit the knowledge on how gut microbiome maturation needs to be modulated to ensure lifelong enhanced resistance towards respiratory infections.

scholarly journals Sepsis and the Microbiome: A Vicious Cycle

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D Miller ◽  
Robert Keskey ◽  
John C Alverdy
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Enteral Feeding ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Antibiotic Stewardship ◽  
Vicious Cycle ◽  
Fecal Transplant ◽  
Suspected Infection

Abstract Although sepsis has been characterized as a dysregulated immune response to an ongoing or suspected infection, the role of the microbiome as a key influencer of the septic response is emerging. The unavoidable disruption of the microbiome while treating sepsis with antibiotics can itself result in immune system dysregulation, further exacerbating the course and outcome of sepsis. Alterations in the gut microbiome as a result of sepsis and its treatment have been implicated in the organ dysfunction typical of sepsis across a wide variety of tissues including the lung, kidney and brain. A number of microbiota directed interventions are currently under investigation in the setting of sepsis including fecal transplant, the administration of dietary fiber in enteral feeding products and the use of antibiotic scavengers that are directed at attenuating the effects of antibiotics on the gut microbiota while allowing them to concentrate at the primary sites of infection. Taken together, the emerging role of the gut microbiome in sepsis touches various elements of the pathophysiology of sepsis and its treatment, and provides yet another reason to consider the judicious use of antibiotics via antibiotic stewardship programs.

scholarly journals The role of probiotics on the roadmap to a healthy microbiota: a symposium report

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacey Lockyer ◽  
Marisol Aguirre ◽  
Louise Durrant ◽  
Bruno Pot ◽  
Kaori Suzuki
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Epigenetic Programming ◽  
Microbiome Research ◽  
Probiotic Mechanisms ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Host Genes

ABSTRACT The ninth International Yakult Symposium was held in Ghent, Belgium in April 2018. Keynote lectures were from Professor Wijmenga on using biobanks to understand the relationship between the gut microbiota and health; and Professor Hill on phage–probiotic interactions. Session one included talks from Professor Plӧsch on epigenetic programming by nutritional and environmental factors; Professor Wilmes on the use of “omics” methodologies in microbiome research and Professor Rescigno on the gut vascular barrier. Session two explored the evidence behind Lactobacillus casei Shirota with Dr Nanno explaining the plasticity in immunomodulation that enables the strain to balance immune functions; Dr Macnaughtan outlining its potential therapeutic use in cirrhosis and Professor Nishida detailing effects in subjects under stress. The third session saw Professor Marchesi describing that both the host genes and the gut microbiota can play a role in cancer; Professor Bergheim highlighting crosstalk between the gut and the liver and Professor Cani describing the relationship between the gut microbiota and the endocrine system. The final session explored probiotic mechanisms, with Professor Lebeer dissecting the challenges in conducting mechanistic studies; Professor Wehkamp describing the mucosal defence system and Professor Van de Wiele detailing methods for modelling the gut microbiota in vitro.

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