Microbiome Flashcards
What is dysbiosis?
disturbance of relative abundance of microbiota
What are prebiotics?
substances that induce the growth/activity ofbacteria in microbiome
What are probiotics?
cultures of microorganisms believed to have health benefits when consumed
What are commensal microbes?
permanent residents of given non-sterile body site
What are opportunistic pathogens?
microbes that normally DO NOT cause disease in immunocompetent people but can can disease in immunocompromised people
How are microbiomes formed?
- birth canal
- intrauterine exposure via placenta
- breast milk
- skin-to skin contact
How many species and bacteria are there in the gut?
- 1000 species & 1 trillion bacteria
- has major impact on weight
What are the functions of gut bacteria in the body?
- digest polysaccharides
- inhibit growth & penetration of pathogens
- produce vitamins
- produce tryptophan
- develop & regulate immune system
What bacteria are commensal? What are pathogenic?
- commensal -> lactobacillus
- pathogenic-> clostridium
What is C diff?
- anaerobic, spore forming
- commensal in small % of people
- major risk is antibiotic exposure
- toxins cause diarrhea -> CDAD
What is CDAD?
- produced by C diff
- can progress to pseudomembranous colitis, toxic mega colon
- treatment: clindamycin, penicillins, vancomycin
- high chance of recurrence after antibiotic treatment
What is the relationship between obesity & the microbiome?
- poor energy converters -> lean (bacteriosides species)
- efficient energy converters -> obese (bacillus, mycoplasma, strep)
- metabolism = human + mcirobes
What is leaky gut syndrome?
infalmmation associated with
* autism
* anxiety
* depression
What is the autism hypothesis of the microbiome?
- imbalance in pro & anti-inflammatory bacteria leads to increased gut permeability
- brain inflammation leads to autism
