Host and gut microbiome

The host and gut microbiome refers to the complex symbiotic ecosystem comprising the host organism and the trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, residing in the gastrointestinal tract. This system is fundamental to human physiology, contributing to the fermentation of non-digestible dietary fibers into short-chain fatty acids, the synthesis of essential vitamins such as K and B12, and the education of the host immune system (NIH, 2023). Disruptions in the composition or function of the microbiome, termed dysbiosis, are associated with numerous systemic and localized diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome, and neurodegenerative disorders (Nature, 2021). Pharmacological and therapeutic strategies aim to modulate this axis through the use of probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and targeted enzyme inhibitors to restore health or prevent disease progression. However, due to its immense complexity and inter-individual variability, it is characterized as a biological system rather than a discrete molecular target.

Other names

Gut microbiotaIntestinal floraHost-microbiota axisHuman gut microbiome

Modulation of microbial community composition, alteration of microbial metabolic pathways, and restoration of intestinal barrier integrity.