Gut microbiota and pathogenic intestinal bacteria

The gut microbiota refers to the complex community of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, residing in the human gastrointestinal tract [Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2020, 18(11): 661-673]. This ecosystem plays a critical role in host health by aiding digestion, synthesizing essential vitamins, and training the immune system to distinguish between commensal and pathogenic organisms [Science, 2012, 336(6086): 1262-1267]. Pathogenic intestinal bacteria, such as Clostridioides difficile or Salmonella, can disrupt this balance, leading to dysbiosis and various gastrointestinal or systemic diseases [Mayo Clinic, 2023]. Therapeutic interventions targeting this system aim to either eradicate specific pathogens using narrow-spectrum antibiotics or restore a healthy microbial balance through probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation [Gastroenterology, 2017, 152(8): 1829-1839]. Understanding the interactions between the host and its microbiota is essential for developing treatments for conditions ranging from inflammatory bowel disease to metabolic disorders [Cell, 2019, 178(5): 1043-1053].

Other names

Gut microbiomeIntestinal floraEnteric microbiotaGut microfloraGastrointestinal microbiota

Inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis, inhibition of protein synthesis, competitive exclusion of pathogens, modulation of host immune response, and restoration of microbial diversity through fecal microbiota transplantation.