Gastrointestinal microbiome community (Gut microbiome)

The gastrointestinal microbiome community is a complex, symbiotic ecosystem comprising trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, primarily located in the large intestine [1]. It functions as a virtual organ that performs critical metabolic tasks, such as the fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates into short-chain fatty acids and the synthesis of vitamins K and B12 [2]. Beyond digestion, this community is a central regulator of the host immune system, helping to distinguish between commensal organisms and pathogens [3]. Dysbiosis, or the disruption of this microbial balance, is strongly associated with various pathologies, including Clostridioides difficile infection, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, and even neuropsychiatric conditions via the gut-brain axis [4]. Therapeutic strategies targeting the microbiome include fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), live biotherapeutic products (LBPs), and precision prebiotics designed to restore ecological stability [5]. Recent clinical successes, such as the FDA approval of microbiota-based therapies for recurrent C. difficile, have established the gut microbiome as a high-priority target for drug development in gastroenterology and oncology [6].

Other names

Gut microbiotaIntestinal floraGut floraGastrointestinal microbiotaHuman intestinal microbiome

Restoration of microbial diversity and competitive exclusion of pathogenic species.