Intestinal microbiota and gut mucosal ecosystem (Gut microbiome)

The intestinal microbiota and gut mucosal ecosystem represent a complex symbiotic community of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea, residing within the gastrointestinal tract (National Institutes of Health, 2020). This ecosystem plays a critical role in human health by facilitating nutrient absorption, synthesizing essential vitamins like K and B12, and training the host immune system to distinguish between commensal and pathogenic organisms (Fan & Pedersen, Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2021). The gut mucosal barrier acts as a physical and immunological interface, preventing the translocation of harmful microbes while allowing for the exchange of metabolites (PubMed, 2019). Dysbiosis, or the pathological imbalance of this microbial community, is linked to a wide range of conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, and metabolic syndrome (Adak & Khan, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2019). Therapeutic interventions aim to restore ecological balance through the use of probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), or targeted antimicrobial agents like Rifaximin (Mayo Clinic, 2022). Furthermore, the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by these microbes is essential for maintaining colonocyte health and systemic anti-inflammatory responses (PubMed, 2018). Understanding the intricate interactions between the microbiota and the host mucosal barrier is essential for developing precision medicine approaches to treat chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

Other names

Gut microbiomeIntestinal floraGastrointestinal microbiotaGut mucosal barrierIntestinal microflora

Modulation of microbial community composition, restoration of taxonomic diversity, competitive exclusion of pathogens, and production of bioactive metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) to enhance mucosal immunity and barrier function (Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2021).