lecture 5

Question 1

Microbiome

Answer 1

all genes found in one’s microbiota

Question 2

microbiota

Answer 2

all the microorganisms that live in and on an organism

Question 3

holobionts

Answer 3

hosts and microbes live together and evolve together

Question 4

Bifidobacteria

Answer 4

• transport polymeric sugars found in human breast milk directly across their plasma membrane
• fermentation of these sugars provides the infant with calories and lowers the gut pH, limiting growth of pathogens.

Question 5

stomach

Answer 5

most microbes killed by acidic conditions

Question 6

large intestine (colon)

Answer 6

• densely packed microbial ecosystem

Question 7

Host metabolism

Answer 7

• gut mircobiota converst food into calories
• higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes
  ratio for normal ppl (biomarker for overweight ppl)

Question 8

metabolome

Answer 8

products microorganisms secrete

Question 9

fermentation impact on host metabolism

Answer 9

bacteria ferment monomers into short chain fatty acids which can be used by the body for metabolic processes
(butyrate: fuels cellular activity; oxidized to CO2)

Question 10

GermFree Mice (GF)

Answer 10

• born via cesarean
• raised in sterility
• used tos tudy effects of microbes on animal health by comparing GF animals to normal animals
• GF mice eat more but gain less weight
• fecal microbiome transplant can make them obese