Host–microbiota gut ecosystem

The host–microbiota gut ecosystem is a complex symbiotic network comprising trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea, interacting with the human gastrointestinal tract. This ecosystem is fundamental to human physiology, contributing to the fermentation of non-digestible dietary fibers into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the synthesis of vitamins (e.g., B and K), and the development and regulation of the mucosal immune system (NIH, 2023). It acts as a functional organ that maintains intestinal barrier integrity and protects against the colonization of enteric pathogens through competitive exclusion. Disruptions to this delicate balance, known as dysbiosis, are strongly associated with diverse conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, type 2 diabetes, and even neurological disorders via the gut-brain axis (Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2022). Pharmacological and therapeutic strategies targeting this ecosystem include the use of live biotherapeutic products (LBPs), fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and precision prebiotics designed to selectively promote beneficial taxa. Unlike traditional single-protein targets, the gut ecosystem requires a systems-biology approach to modulate community-wide metabolic outputs and host-microbe signaling pathways.

Other names

Gut microbiomeGut microbiotaIntestinal floraGastrointestinal ecosystemHuman gut microbiome

Modulation of microbial community composition, restoration of taxonomic diversity, and alteration of metabolite production (e.g., short-chain fatty acids) to restore host homeostasis (Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2023).