Human microbiome Flashcards
What is a microbiome
Complete collection of microorganisms, and their genes, within a particular environment
What is a microbiota
Individual microbial species in a biome (bacteria, fungi, archaea and viruses)
What were the goals of the HMP
Develop blue print/reference of human microbiome
Use this to find relationship between disease and changes in microbiome
Develop technologies able to process information (amount of data)
Be able to share this info with everyone
Study ethical, legal and social implications of microbiome research
Describe diversity of human microbiomes
Different sites have different microbes (niche specialization)
Very diverse between individuals (Each persons microbiome different)
Describe relationship between community and function of microbiomes
Community can change but the metabolic function doesn’t (as much). Eg. Can vary between cultures but same function
What are the 4 dominant groups in human microbial communities
Firmicutes
Bacteroidetes
Actinobacteria
Proteobacteria
Gut (digestive tract) density of microbes
Highest density of microbes in the human body
How do different sites vary in microbes
Different sites have different conditions and is reflected in microbe differences (eg. less microbes in stomach as very acidic)
What are functional foods
Foods claimed to have health-promoting or disease-preventing properties beyond basic nutrients
What are probiotics and how do they work
Live microorganisms (fermented food). Can survive transit through stomach.
What are prebiotics and how do they work
Nourishes good bacteria already in bowel and colon.
We can’t digest plant fibres so they transit through stomach to feed bacteria past this point.
What are the potential benefits of probiotics
Benefits - Chronic intestinal inflammatory disease, prevention of pathogen-induced diarrhoea, urogenital infections
What are the potential benefits of prebiotics
Some target specific bacteria that stimulate growth of probiotics. Can be obtained naturally.
How do probiotics and prebiotics interact
Prebiotics provide food for probiotics to grow.
But these foods aren’t proven to work
How do probiotics and prebiotics interact
Prebiotics provide food (fertilizer) for probiotics (seeds) to grow.
But these foods aren’t proven to work
