Host intestinal mucosa and microbiota ecosystem

The host intestinal mucosa and microbiota ecosystem is a complex, multi-component biological system comprising the intestinal epithelial layer, the overlying mucus layer, and a diverse community of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This ecosystem functions as a dynamic interface that regulates nutrient absorption, metabolic homeostasis, and the maturation of the host immune system (Belkaid & Hand, 2014). Disruption of this delicate balance, often termed dysbiosis, is a hallmark of various pathologies such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and metabolic syndrome (Thursby & Juge, 2017). Therapeutic strategies targeting this ecosystem include the administration of live biotherapeutic products, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and dietary interventions to modulate microbial composition and host-microbe signaling (Fan & Pedersen, 2021). Because it involves a vast array of species and molecular interactions, it represents a systemic therapeutic target rather than a single molecular entity. Current research focuses on identifying specific microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, that mediate these host-microbe interactions to develop more precise pharmacological interventions.

Other names

Gut microbiota-host axisIntestinal ecosystemGut microbiome-mucosa interfaceIntestinal microbiota-host interface

Restoration of microbial diversity, competitive exclusion of pathogens, modulation of host immune signaling via microbial metabolites, and reinforcement of the mucosal barrier.