Gut microbiota and luminal contents (GM)

The gut microbiota and luminal contents represent a complex biological system comprising trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, along with their metabolic byproducts within the gastrointestinal tract (NIH, 2023). This ecosystem performs vital biological functions such as the fermentation of dietary fibers into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the synthesis of vitamins K and B12, and the maturation of the host immune system (Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2022). Dysbiosis, or the imbalance of this microbial community, is implicated in a wide range of diseases, including Clostridioides difficile infection, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and metabolic disorders like obesity (Science, 2021). Therapeutic targeting of the gut microbiota involves diverse strategies, such as the use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics like fidaxomicin, the administration of probiotics and prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to restore ecological balance (The Lancet, 2019). Additionally, the luminal contents, including bile acids and microbial metabolites, serve as signaling molecules that interact with host receptors like TGR5 and FXR, influencing systemic metabolism and inflammation (Cell Metabolism, 2020). As a therapeutic target, the gut microbiota is unique because it requires a systems-biology approach to modulate a community of organisms rather than a single host protein.

Other names

Gut microbiomeIntestinal floraGut microfloraLuminal environmentGastrointestinal microbiota

Modulation of microbial composition, restoration of taxonomic diversity, and alteration of luminal metabolite profiles.