Gut Microbiota in Health & Diseas Flashcards
Define Dysbiosis
A term for microbial imbalance or maladaptation on or inside the body such as an impaired microbiota
Is dysbiosis of the gut microbiota a cause or correlation of disease?
Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can be the cause of illness if you are unable to properly process your diet or get an infection.
It can also be the result of an illness, antibiotics and diet changes.
Essentially, changes in gut microbiota composition may be associated with diseases but this not always mean they cause the disease
Name some diseases that correlate with microbial dysbiosis?
IBS IBD Colerectal Cancer Diabetes Cardiovascular Disease Rheumatoid Arthritis Allergies
Define probiotic?
Live microorganisms that when administered in correct amounts confer a health benefit on the host
Define prebiotic?
Substrate for Probiotic micro-organisms which changes in the GI microbiota’s composition or activity thus conferring health benefits
How could probiotics be used to treat disease?
- Competition (exclusion or direct antagonism)
- Bioconversion of dietary compounds
- Vitamin production
- Barrier Function
- Reduce inflammation
- Stimulate the immune system
Why would the effect of probiotics vary by person?
The persons own gut microbiota and genotype affects how the probiotics will grow and the effect they’ll have
Known useful functions of prebiotics
When you need to stimulate growth in certain commensal/beneficial bacteria
E.g. to cause:
- Improved Gut Function, stool bulking & faster gut transit
- reducing inflammatory markers to manage IBD
- reduce risk of colon cancer but reducing cell proliferation
- Some increase Ca absrption & bone health
How does a FMT work for treating C. Diff?
Faecal sample from healthy donor transplanted into the recipient by enema, colonoscopy, capsules or naso-enteric tube
Repopulates colon, displaces C. Diff, prevets reinfection
Why does FMT work for treating infection but not other GI diseases?
FMT works by restoring natural gut microbiota, any GI disease that doesnt work by altering the microbiota or infecting the GI tract would’nt be affected by FMT
Why arn’t antibiotics great for GI problems?
They kill many commensal bacteria that may be important for health, as well as pathogens
How can disease be involved in malfunction of commensal bacteria
IBD- most likely cause seems to be associated with abnormal response to commensal bacteria in the gut
- Gram positive bacteria seem to reduces in numbers
- Facultative anaerobe bacteria seem to increase in numbers
Most common prebiotics
- FOS and Inulin
- GOS
- Lactulose
Found naturally in leeks and onions.
Added to cereal/yogurt
