Gut microbiota (regulation)

Gut microbiota regulation refers to the modulation of the complex, multi-species microbial ecosystem in the gastrointestinal tract, aiming to restore or optimize host-microbe interactions for health or disease therapy. Approaches may include probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, microbial metabolite modulators, and transplantation strategies[5][7][3]. Gut microbiota profoundly influences digestion, immune homeostasis, the integrity of the intestinal barrier, metabolite production, and signaling pathways across the body (including the gut-brain axis)[2][6][8][4][1]. Its dysregulation (dysbiosis) can contribute to inflammation, infection, cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders, making it a broad and multi-modal therapeutic target—but not strictly a classical receptor, gene, or protein[3][5][7][8].

Other names

Gut floraintestinal microbiotagut microbial communitygastrointestinal microbiome

Modulation and restoration of normal microbiota composition; Inhibition of pathogenic microbe overgrowth and promotion of beneficial species; Alteration of microbial metabolite production (e.g., tryptophan derivatives, SCFAs, bile acids); Regulation of immune and inflammatory responses; Enhancement of intestinal barrier function; Modification of neurochemical or hormonal signaling.