Obesity, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome are associated with changes to the gut microbiota; however, the mechanism by which modifications to the gut microbiota might lead to these conditions is unknown. Here we show that increased production of acetate by an altered gut microbiota in rodents leads to activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which, in turn, promotes increa...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, inflammatory, and autoimmune disorder. Gut microbiota play an important role in the etiology of RA. With the considerable progress made in next-generation sequencing techniques, the identified gut microbiota difference between RA patients and healthy individuals provides an updated overview of the association between gut microbiota and RA. We reviewed th...

The commensal microbiota is in constant interaction with the immune system, teaching immune cells to respond to antigens. Studies in mice have demonstrated that manipulation of the intestinal microbiota alters host immune cell homeostasis. Additionally, metagenomic-sequencing analysis has revealed alterations in intestinal microbiota in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, asthma...

Acquisition of the intestinal microbiota begins at birth, and a stable microbial community develops from a succession of key organisms. Disruption of the microbiota during maturation by low-dose antibiotic exposure can alter host metabolism and adiposity. We now show that low-dose penicillin (LDP), delivered from birth, induces metabolic alterations and affects ileal expression of genes involve...

background: fecal microbiota transplant (fmt) is employed to replace the ‘unhealthy’ microbiota of the patient with the ‘healthy’ microbiota of a pre-screened healthy donor. given the growing importance of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of intestinal or extraintestinal diseases; it is conceivable that fmt becomes integrated in the routine clinical practice. our objective was to as...

The gastrointestinal tract of mammals is home to a plethora of microbial species that comprise the microbiota. The role of the microbiota in human health is at the forefront of science in recent years, because it is now appreciated that this intricate microbe-host association shapes the host's immune response and physiology. Many diseases are associated with changes in the microbiota, called dy...

Most, if not all, animals coexist with a complement of prokaryotic symbionts that confer a variety of physiologic benefits. In humans, the interaction between animal and bacterial cells is especially important in the gastrointestinal tract. Technical and conceptual advances have enabled rapid progress in characterizing the taxonomic composition, metabolic capacity, and immunomodulatory activity...

The infant’s immature intestinal immune system develops as it comes into contact with dietary and microbial antigens in the gut. The evolving indigenous intestinal microbiota have a significant impact on the developing immune system and there is accumulating evidence indicating that an intimate interaction between gut microbiota and host defence mechanisms is mandatory for the development and m...

That gastrointestinal motility can influence the gut microbiota has been known for decades and the clinical consequences of impaired motility, in terms of the bacterial population of the small intestine, amply illustrated by the syndrome of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth which so commonly accompanies diffuse intestinal motility disorders. As the importance of the microbiota to homeostasi...

The microbiota of Drosophila melanogaster has a substantial impact on host physiology and nutrition. Some effects may involve vitamin provisioning, but the relationships between microbe-derived vitamins, diet, and host health remain to be established systematically. We explored the contribution of microbiota in supplying sufficient dietary thiamine (vitamin B1) to support D. melanogaster at dif...