Gut Microbiome

About Gut Microbiome

• Gut Microbiome is the community of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, that live in the human gut.
• Acquisition of Gut Microbiome
  • Initial acquisition: A human infant first acquires gut microbes during vaginal delivery and through breastfeeding.
  • Later changes: As a person grows, diet and other environmental exposures introduce new microbes and can change the gut microbiome over time.
• Key Functions of the Gut Microbiome
  • Energy harvesting: It helps in harvesting energy from digested food.
  • Protection: It protects the body against harmful pathogens.
  • Immune regulation: It helps regulate immune function.
  • Gut barrier: It strengthens the biochemical barriers of the gut and intestine.
  • Nutrient production: It helps break down food compounds and synthesize certain vitamins and amino acids.
• Dysbiosis: It is a disturbance in the normal balance between beneficial and harmful microbiota, which can make the body more susceptible to disease.
  • Causes of Dysbiosis: Infectious illnesses, certain diets, prolonged use of antibiotics or other bacteria-destroying medicines, and environmental exposures can disturb the normal balance of gut microbiota.
• Diseases Associated:
  • Gastrointestinal diseases: Harmful bacteria can cause infections, including food poisoning and diseases that result in diarrhea and vomiting.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease: Gut bacterial populations are linked with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
  • Obesity and diabetes: Low microbial diversity has links with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
  • Metabolic syndrome: The status of gut microbiota has links with metabolic syndrome.
  • Antibiotic-resistant infections: Disturbing microbiota with antibiotics can contribute to infections that become resistant to antibiotics.
• Recently, a South Asian Gut Microbiome Study revealed a unique pattern in South Asian gut microbiomes.
  • Their gut microbiomes were distinct from those reported in other parts of the world.
  • Each community followed a unique microbiome trajectory shaped by culture, diet, geography and lifestyle.
  • Different communities responded differently to urbanization, with common microbial changes also associated with metabolic health.