Gastrointestinal microbiome and gut mucosal ecosystem (GM)

The gastrointestinal microbiome and gut mucosal ecosystem represent a complex community of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea, residing within the human digestive tract (NIH, 2023). This ecosystem plays a fundamental role in host health by facilitating the digestion of complex carbohydrates, synthesizing essential vitamins, and training the mucosal immune system to distinguish between commensal organisms and pathogens (Guinane & Cotter, 2013). Dysbiosis, or the imbalance of this microbial community, is strongly linked to a wide range of local and systemic pathologies, including inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic disorders, and susceptibility to enteric infections (Fan & Pedersen, 2021). Therapeutic interventions targeting this system range from broad-spectrum antibiotics and fecal microbiota transplantations to more refined live biotherapeutic products and prebiotics designed to restore ecological balance (FDA, 2023). Understanding the intricate crosstalk between the gut microbiota and the host's mucosal barrier is critical for developing precision medicines that can modulate this ecosystem to treat chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases.

Other names

Gut microbiotaIntestinal microbiomeGut floraGastrointestinal microbiotaGut mucosal ecosystem

Modulation of microbial composition through competitive exclusion, restoration of ecological diversity, and production of metabolites that influence host signaling and immune function.