Gut microbiota ecosystem

The gut microbiota ecosystem is the vast and dynamic community of microorganisms—including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and eukaryotes (primarily fungi)—inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals[1][2][4]. This microbial community interacts closely with the host, playing essential roles in digestion, metabolism, immune system development, pathogen resistance, and other aspects of health. A balanced and diverse microbiota is associated with optimal health, whereas disruptions in its composition (dysbiosis) are linked to diseases such as IBD, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and neuropsychiatric disorders[6][7]. The ecosystem changes with age, diet, environment, and medication use, and is highly individualized. Unlike a classical molecular drug target, the gut microbiota is a diverse ecosystem that can be influenced by drugs (antibiotics, probiotics, etc.) but is not a single molecule or protein[3][6]. In summary, the "gut microbiota ecosystem" is an entire communal system, not an individual molecular target. It is essential for homeostasis and health, can be manipulated for therapeutic purposes (e.g. FMT, antibiotics), but does not fit the conventional definition of a molecular receptor or target.

Other names

Gut microbiotagut microbiomegut floragastrointestinal microbiota

Alteration (suppression, elimination, or modulation) of microbial composition (e.g., antibiotics eliminate or inhibit portions of microbiota); Introduction or support of beneficial organisms (probiotics, FMT); Stimulation of beneficial species via substrate provision (prebiotics); Selective pressure modifying function or diversity; Indirect modulation of immune function or metabolism