The Human Microbiome and Gut Microbiota

The human microbiome is defined as the microbial community (bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa) present in the human body. The human microbiome plays very important roles in the maintenance and development of the immune system and metabolism among other body functions.

The densest and most diverse microbial community has been found in the human gastrointestinal tract.

Large governmental research initiatives including the Human Microbiome Project in the U.S. and the MetaHIT Project in Europe accelerated research on the human microbiome. Scientists are quickly learning the details of how microbial populations interact and the roles they play in health and disease.

Why Knowledge about the Human Microbiome and Gut Microbiota are Important

There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiota plays an important role in protecting the host from disease.

Although antibiotics have proven immensely useful in the treatment of disease, antibiotics play a role in disturbing the microbial balance found in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy individuals. This loss of microbial diversity called dysbiosis can put people at risk for disease.

There are indications that disturbances to the gut microbiota may be involved in infectious, inflammatory, metabolic, liver and neurological diseases. Restoration of gut microbes may provide an effective and durable treatment.

Advances in knowledge about the human microbiome may open the possibility of additional microbiota-based drug therapies for challenging diseases.