The Gut Microbiome and Its Implication in the Mucosal Digestive Disorders

Abstract

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is one of the most studied compartments of the human body as it hosts the largest microbial community including trillions of germs. The relationship between the human and its associated flora is complex, as the microbiome plays an important role in nutrition, metabolism and immune function. With a dynamic composition, influenced by many intrinsic and extrinsic factors, there is an equilibrium maintained in the composition of GI microbiota, translated as “eubiosis”. Any disruption of the microbiota leads to the development of different local and systemic diseases. This article reviews the human GI microbiome’s composition and function in healthy individuals as well as its involvement in the pathogenesis of different digestive disorders. It also highlights the possibility to consider flora manipulation a therapeutic option when treating GI diseases.

The Implication of the Gut Microbiome in Heart Failure

“…The human gut microbiome is considered to be an organ on its own with major interactions within the human organism, playing an active role in various immunological, neuronal, metabolic and endocrine responses [ 13 ]. The highest concentration and diversity of microorganisms from the human body lies in the gastrointestinal tract, consisting of more than 500 distinct species of bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa [ 14 , 15 ].…”

“…The highest concentration and diversity of microorganisms from the human body lies in the gastrointestinal tract, consisting of more than 500 distinct species of bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa [ 14 , 15 ]. The GI microbiota are represented by five primary bacterial phyla: the Firmicutes (synonym Bacillota ) and Bacteroides (synonym Bacteroidota ) phyla predominate the microbiome and represent more than 90% of total bacterial communities, while the Proteobacteria (synonym Pseudomonadota) , Actinobacteria (synonym Actinomycetota ), and Verrucomicrobia phyla are represented in smaller proportions [ 13 , 16 ]. Although the Bacillota phylum consists of more than 200 different genera such as Bacillus , Lactobacillus , Enterococcus , Ruminococcus and Clostridium , and the Clostridium genus represents 95% of the phylum.…”

Difficulties in Adaptation of the Mother and Newborn via Cesarean Section versus Natural Birth—A Narrative Review

“…Regarding the pediatric consequences of cesarean section, several studies concluded that cesarean section is a risk factor for respiratory tract infections, asthma, obesity, and neurological disorders in children [ 45 ]. Current studies consider early alteration of the human microbiome to play an important role in the onset and progression of several diseases by modulating important metabolic and immunomodulatory processes [ 99 , 100 ]. Depending on the delivery mode, quantitative and qualitative differences have been found in newborns’ intestinal microflora [ 45 ].…”

“…Depending on the delivery mode, quantitative and qualitative differences have been found in newborns’ intestinal microflora [ 45 ]. Infants born through the birth canal share their mothers’ vaginal and fecal flora, while those delivered through cesarean section have a microbiota similar to their mothers’ skin and to the surrounding environment [ 100 ].…”

General Nutrition Principles for the Mental and Physical Health of Children

“…Inflammatory intestinal diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) have unknown aetiologies and a marked incidence in many developed countries. Numerous studies have suggested the important role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (Bozomitu et al, 2022;Chen et al, 2014). The intestinal dysbiosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease involve a decrease in the intestinal microflora of Firmicutes and Bacteroides.…”