Gut microbiota community composition

The gut microbiota community composition refers to the complex and dynamic ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, inhabiting the human gastrointestinal tract [1]. This community functions as a virtual organ that is essential for the fermentation of non-digestible dietary fibers, the synthesis of vitamins such as B12 and K, and the maintenance of the intestinal mucosal barrier [2]. It plays a pivotal role in host health by modulating the immune system and protecting against pathogen colonization through competitive exclusion and the production of antimicrobial peptides [3]. Dysbiosis, or the pathological imbalance of this community, is implicated in a broad spectrum of diseases, including Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes [4]. Therapeutic strategies targeting the microbiota include fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), live biotherapeutic products (LBPs), and prebiotics, which aim to restore a healthy microbial balance and diversity [5]. Unlike traditional single-molecule targets, the gut microbiota is targeted as a collective system to alter the host's physiological, metabolic, and immunological landscape [6].

Other names

Gut microbiomeIntestinal microfloraGastrointestinal microbiotaCommensal gut community

Restoration of microbial diversity and ecological homeostasis to suppress pathogens and modulate host metabolic and immune pathways.