Intestinal and oral microbiome community

The intestinal and oral microbiome community refers to the vast and diverse collection of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, that reside in the human gastrointestinal and oral cavities. This complex ecosystem functions as a dynamic biological entity, performing essential roles such as the fermentation of non-digestible dietary fibers, synthesis of vitamins (e.g., Vitamin K and B12), and the maturation of the host's mucosal immune system [1, 2]. The oral microbiome serves as the primary gateway to the GI tract, and its composition can significantly influence the downstream intestinal environment through the translocation of species and metabolites [3]. Dysbiosis, characterized by a loss of microbial diversity or an overgrowth of pathobionts, is fundamentally linked to the pathogenesis of Clostridioides difficile infection, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), periodontitis, and systemic metabolic disorders [4, 5]. Therapeutic strategies targeting this community include the use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics, prebiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to restore ecological homeostasis [6]. Recent clinical successes, such as the FDA approval of microbiota-based products for recurrent infections, underscore the community's role as a critical therapeutic target in modern medicine [7]. Sources: [1] NIH Human Microbiome Project (2012); [2] Belkaid & Hand (2014) Cell; [3] Park et al. (2021) Front Cell Infect Microbiol; [4] Lynch & Pedersen (2016) NEJM; [5] Fan & Pedersen (2021) Nat Rev Microbiol; [6] Kho & Lal (2018) Front Microbiol; [7] Khanna et al. (2022) Drugs.

Other names

Gut-oral axisHuman microbiotaCommensal floraGastrointestinal microbiomeOral microbiomeIntestinal flora

Restoration of microbial diversity and ecological balance, competitive exclusion of pathogenic species, modulation of host immune signaling through Toll-like receptors, and production of bioactive metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) [5, 6].