Lecture 11 and 12: Beneficial Interactions of Bacteria with the Host Flashcards
What is the role of the microbiome ?
The microbiome influences multiple host functions that have a direct impact on human health
What is the metagenomic approach ?
Study of genetic material directly from environmental samples
What are most bacteria not ?
They are not culturable
What is the 16s RNA subunit used for ?
Studying the evolutionary relationship between species
How are phylogenetic relationships between bacteria established ?
By comparing the stable part of the genetic code
What is whole genome shotgun sequencing ?
DNA broken up into fragments which are then sequnced. Multiple overlapping reads generated which are then overlapped to assemble into a continuous sequence
What is the aim of the human microbiome project ?
Aims to characterise the microbial communities found at several sites i the body
What is symbiosis ?
Associations in which one organism lives on or inside the other
What is mutualistic ?
Relationship beneficial to both species
What is commensalistic ?
Relationship where one organism benefits while the other is unaffected
What is parasitic ?
Relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the other
What is a pathobiont ?
Any commensal species that does not normally elicit an inflammatory response but under particular conditions has the potential to cause dysregulated inflammation and lead to disease
What is a pathogen ?
An infectious agent that can cause disease to its host
What is the microbiota ?
Microbial organisms that make up the microbiome
What is the microbiome ?
Collection of genomes from all microorganisms
What are the sterile body sites ?
- Solid organs
- Blood
- Cerebrospinal fluid
- Urine
What are the colonised body sites ?
- Skin
- Nasal passage
- Oral mucosa
- Intestinal mucosa
- Urogenital mucosa
- Respiratory tract
How many bacteria phyla are human microbiota dominated by ?
4
What is exclusivity ?
Specific type of interaction with hosts that faciltates colonisation of specific site
What represents the most significant microbiota ?
Gastrointestinal tract
What are functions of the intestinal microbiota ?
- Digesiton of food and provision of nutrients
- Protection against colonisation with pathogenic organisms
- Epithelial homeostasis, differentiation of mucosa, maintenance of barrier integrity
- “Education” of the immune system, establishing immune tolerance
When is the fetus sterile ?
In utero
When does colonisation of fetus begin and end ?
Begins immediately after birth and ends by one week
What is modulated throughout life ?
Composition of gut flora influenced by host and environmental factors in the first year of life
What are early life factors that impact the development of the microbiota ?
- Mode of delivery
- Infant feeding
- Hospitalisation and premature birth
- Antibiotic use by mother during pregnancy and at time of delivery
What are life long factors that impact the development of mirobiota ?
- Antibiotic use
- Diet
- Obesity
- Use of probiotics
What do antibiotics affect ?
Gene expression, protein activity and overall metabolism of gut microbiota
What is clostridium difficile role ?
- Toxins
- Hydrolytic enzyme
- Increases vascular permeability
- Inflammation
- Disrupt epithelial tight junctions
What is a treatment of clostridium difficile ?
Fecal transplantation
What is the hygiene hypothesis ?
The lack of exposure of microorganisms and parasites has led to increased incidents of asmtha, allergies and atopic disease
What organ has the largest surface area ?
GI tract
What is gut associated lymphoid tissue ?
Organised lymphoid tissue/immune inductive sites
What are the functions of gut associated lymphoid tissue ?
- Sites of T cell education
- Initiation of immune responses
What are the main gut associated lymphoi tissues ?
- Peyers patches
- Mesenteric lymphnodes