Intestinal microbiota and pathogenic gut microorganisms (Gut microbiome)

The intestinal microbiota and pathogenic gut microorganisms represent the vast and complex ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea residing in the human digestive tract (NIH, 2020). This biological system is essential for host health, contributing to the fermentation of non-digestible dietary fibers, the synthesis of vitamins K and B12, and the maturation of the mucosal immune system (Guinane & Cotter, 2013). When the balance of this community is disrupted—a state known as dysbiosis—it can lead to the overgrowth of pathogenic organisms like Clostridioides difficile or contribute to chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases (PubMed, 2017). Therapeutic strategies targeting this system include the use of antibiotics to eliminate pathogens, probiotics and prebiotics to encourage beneficial growth, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to restore a functional ecosystem (Khoruts & Sadowsky, 2016). Because this 'target' comprises thousands of distinct species and strains rather than a single molecular entity, it is classified as a complex biological system rather than a traditional drug target (Nature, 2021).

Other names

Gut floraIntestinal microbiomeEnteric microbiotaGastrointestinal microbiotaGut microflora

Modulation of microbial community composition, competitive inhibition of pathogenic colonization, restoration of microbial diversity, and production of bioactive metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).