Host-microbiota ecosystem

The host-microbiota ecosystem represents the complex community of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, that live in symbiotic association with the human host (NIH Human Microbiome Project, 2012). This ecosystem is primarily concentrated in the gastrointestinal tract, where it performs vital biological functions such as the fermentation of non-digestible dietary fibers, synthesis of essential vitamins like K and B12, and the maturation of the host immune system (Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2018). Disruptions to this ecosystem, termed dysbiosis, are implicated in a broad spectrum of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes, and even neurological conditions via the gut-brain axis (Science, 2021). Therapeutic strategies targeting the host-microbiota ecosystem include the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to restore microbial diversity and function (FDA, 2023). Unlike traditional drug targets that consist of a single protein or receptor, this ecosystem acts as a collective biological system with vast metabolic potential, making it a unique and challenging focus for drug development and precision medicine.

Other names

Human microbiomeGut microbiotaCommensal floraHost-microbiome axisMicrobiota-host interfaceMicrobial ecosystem

Modulation of microbial composition and diversity to restore homeostasis, competitive exclusion of pathogens, and alteration of microbial metabolite production (e.g., short-chain fatty acids).