L19: The Gut Microbiome Flashcards
What is a microbiome
Community of micro-organism composed of virus, bacteria, yeast and archaea
What does bacteria in the gut do
Digest food that the gut cannot
What is the purpose of microbiome
Host defence of pathogens Nutrient digestion Synthesis of vitamin K and B Immune system development Fermentation of carbohydrate that we are unable to digest Conjugating bile Intestinal epithelial maintenance
What are enterotypes
Clusters of bacterial communities
Can enterotypes change
Yes
What changes the microbiome
Age: as we grow Immune system Genetics Diet Drugs such as antibiotics Iron intake
How does iron levels affect the microbiome composition
Low iron levels reduces the microbiome composition as bacteria cannot survive without iron
In what diseases do we see a change in microbiome
IBD Obesity Cancer Diabetes Autism
How does the microbiome change
Quantities
Type of bacterial community
What happens to the microbiome in IBD
Decrease in richness of bacteria
Decrease in diversity
How do we study the microbiome
Sequencing 16s rRNA
What is dysbiosis
A change in microbiome
What is the mechanism of dysbiosis in IBD
1) antimicrobial peptides and mucin and IgA as a barrier in healthy bowel
2) in IBD bacteria infiltrate the mucin and body thinks the bacteria are bad and destroys them
How can we remedy the dysbiosis
Antibiotics (sometimes) if the original insult is caused by a pathogen
FMT
What does FMT stand for
Faecal microbial transplantation
