Gastric microbiota

The gastric microbiota refers to the complex and dynamic ecosystem of bacteria, viruses, and fungi residing in the stomach, which was once thought to be sterile due to its high acidity [6, 11]. This community plays a vital role in maintaining gastric homeostasis by modulating local immune responses, aiding in nutrient metabolism, and providing a barrier against the colonization of exogenous pathogens [2, 10]. Helicobacter pylori is the most prominent member of this microbiota and is a major risk factor for chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric adenocarcinoma via the action of virulence factors such as CagA and VacA [6, 19]. Recent research indicates that dysbiosis involving other microbial taxa, such as Fusobacterium and Lactobacillus, also contributes to carcinogenesis and affects the host's response to treatments like immunotherapy [2, 12]. Pharmacological agents, including antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors, significantly remodel the gastric microbial composition, which can in turn alter drug bioavailability and toxicity [1, 15]. Therapeutic interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation are being investigated as strategies to restore microbial balance and improve clinical outcomes in gastrointestinal diseases [7, 10, 12].

Other names

Gastric microbiomeStomach floraStomach microbiotaGastric bacterial community

Eradication of pathogenic species (e.g., H. pylori), restoration of microbial diversity, modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment, competitive inhibition of pathogens, and production of beneficial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).