The intestinal microbiome is defined as the assembly of genomes from microorganisms inhabiting the gut. This microbial ecosystem regulates important functions of the host and its correct composition and functionality is essential for a "healthy status." Metagenomic studies have highlighted variations of the intestinal microbiota as a function of age and diet. Colonization of the infant gut star...

The microbial communities inhabiting the mammalian intestinal tract play an important role in diverse aspects of host biology. However, little is known regarding the forces shaping variation in these communities and their influence on host fitness. To shed light on the contributions of host genetics, transmission and geography to diversity in microbial communities between individuals, we perfor...

The effects of diet on the histochemical composition of intestinal mucosubstances and the morphology of the villi and crypts were investigated by comparing the data of germ free and conventionally maintained rats fed either a purified diet or a commercial diet. The influence of intestinal microflora was evaluated by comparing the germ free rats and those harbouring either a conventional rat flo...

Currently, cerebral infarction (CI) is the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of mortality in China, seriously affecting patient quality of life. Ischemia (IS) is considered to be the early stage of CI. The present study aims to investigate the variation of intestinal microbial communities in patients with CI and IS using high throughput sequencing technology, and then ana...

The human intestinal tract is colonized by microbial communities that show a subject-specific composition and a high-level temporal stability in healthy adults. To determine whether this is reflected at the functional level, we compared the faecal metaproteomes of healthy subjects over time using a novel high-throughput approach based on denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and liquid ...

BACKGROUND In addition to progressive CD4(+) T cell immune deficiency, HIV infection is characterized by generalized immune activation, thought to arise from increased microbial exposure resulting from diminishing immunity. RESULTS Here we report that, in a virus-free mouse model, conditional ablation of activated CD4(+) T cells, the targets of immunodeficiency viruses, accelerates their turn...

The microbial colonisation of the infant gut begins immediately after birth and is essential for the development of the intestine, the immune system and later well-being. Important differences have been reported in the characteristics of such microbiota in different infant population groups. In the present study, we employed an in vitro faecal batch culture model using faeces from different hum...

Dr. Dan Sadowski Co-Chair, CDDW 2012 ROLE OF THE GUT MICROBIOME IN HUMAN HEALTH AND DISEASE During the 2012 Canadian Digestive Diseases Week (CDDW) the role of the gut microbiome in human health and disease was discussed. The microbial community residing in the intestinal tract is a delicate balance of beneficial and potentially harmful microbial species (Figure 1). There is increasing recognit...

Mammals are eukaryotic organisms, yet they can harbor up to hundreds of trillions of bacteria in their intestines through an elegant form of mutualism (1). To extract maximal benefit from these bacteria, the mucosal immune system must respond in a tolerogenic manner while remaining poised to vigorously react to potential pathogens (2). Thus, intestinal immune cells are charged with an exceeding...