Work

Role of the gut microbiota in health and chronic gastrointestinal disease: understanding a hidden metabolic organ

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: The human gut microbiota has become the subject of extensive research in recent years and our knowledge of the resident species and their potential functional capacity is rapidly growing. Our gut harbours a complex community of over 100 trillion microbial cells which influence human physiology, metabolism, nutrition and immune function while disruption to the gut microbiota has been linked with gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and obesity. Here, we review the many significant recent studies that have centred on further enhancing our understanding of the complexity of intestinal communities as well as their genetic and metabolic potential. These have provided important information with respect to what constitutes a 'healthy gut microbiota' while furthering our understanding of the role of gut microbes in intestinal diseases. We also highlight recently developed genomic and other tools that are used to study the gut microbiome and, finally, we consider the manipulation of the gut microbiota as a potential therapeutic option to treat chronic gastrointestinal disease.

Source: Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology

DOI: 10.1177/1756283x13482996

Authors: Caitriona M. Guinane, Paul D. Cotter

Institutions: Teagasc - The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, University College Cork

Language: English

Topic: Gut microbiota and health

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Science Foundation Ireland