Microbiome

Question 1

Primary vs Opportunistic pathogens

Answer 1

Primary - infect healthy hosts

Opportunistic - infect compromised hosts

Question 2

Beneficial Functions of Microbiota

Answer 2

1. Protective
   - pathogen exclusion
   - nutrient, receptor competition
   - Antimicrobials (lactica cid, H2O2, pH, bacteriocins)
2. Structural
   - Barrier
   - Immune system (IgA induction)
   - Tight junctions
3. Metabolic
   - Ferment polysaccharides and mucus
   - Synthesize vitamins
   - Sequester metals

Question 3

Microbial fermentations are responsible for ___ of our calories

Answer 3

10%

Question 4

Butyrate has what functions?

Answer 4

• Energy source for enterocytes
• Stimulate epithelial cathelicidins
• Chromatin remodeling

Question 5

Role of acetate in peripheral tissues

Answer 5

Anti-inflammatory mediator

Question 6

Microbes associated with obesity

Answer 6

Firmicutes - more of this leads to obesity (maybe)

Bacteroidetes - less of this leads to obesity

Question 7

What is the underlying philosophy behind the ‘Omics Revolution

Answer 7

• parallel analysis of many target molecules
• high throughput
• culture independent

Question 8

Bifidobacteria

Answer 8

• Adapted to live off of oligosaccharides (breast milk)

- Peak and fall off at time of weaning

Question 9

After weaning, which bacteria are most prominent?

Answer 9

Firmicutes (Clostridia and Lactobacillia)

Bacteroidetes (Bacteroides and Prevotella)

Question 10

Infant and adult microbiomes converge at ___

Answer 10

2-3 years

Question 11

Do microbiomes change across body sites?

Answer 11

Yes