The Human Microbiome from Mol Med

Question 1

What’s a microbiome?

Answer 1

The genes of all the micro-organisms living in association with human body

Question 2

What factors impact the individual’s microbiota?

Answer 2

• Diet
• Environment ( antibiotics)
• Host immune system

Question 2

What’s microbiota?

Answer 2

Micro-organisms living within the host

Question 3

What’s the role of microbiota in human body?

Answer 3

• Provide enzymes which make energy and nutrients available from food we cannot process.
• Regulates immunity and metabolism:
  -Produces metabolites which are absorbed and provide specific signals which have become part of our physiology.
  -Releases cell components

*The physical development and
function of the entire immune
system depends on the presence of the microbiota

Question 4

What are the 3 levels of protection promoted by the intestinal microbiota?

Answer 4

• Saturate colonisation sites
• Drive mucin production, IgA
  secretion, AMP expression.
• Enhance immune responses
  to invading pathogens.

Question 5

What is dysbiosis

Answer 5

It is an imbalance or disruption in the composition and function of the microbiota

Question 6

What are harmful impacts of dysbiosis?

Answer 6

• Loss of overall diversity
• Change in the ratios of the major phyla
• Bloom of a specific bacterium, especially one with the potential to cause damage

Question 7

What’s the impact of using antibiotics on microbiota?

Answer 7

• Pathogen susceptibility
• Decrease diversity and cause
  dysbiosis

Question 8

Probiotics

Answer 8

Live microorganisms that, when
administered in adequate amounts, confer a
health benefit for the host.
*Probiotics are live microorganisms, often referred to as “good” or “friendly” bacteria, that can provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts

Question 9

Prebiotic

Answer 9

Non-digestible food ingredients
that, when consumed in sufficient amounts
selectively stimulate the growth/activity of probiotics

Question 10

Bacteriotherapy

Answer 10

Transplantation of the entire
ecosystem (Faecal transplants)