1.

Normal flora contains more than 200 bacterial species, among which gram-
positive bacteria predominate.
2. The factors influencing the normal microflora include age, diet, nutrition, sex, and
immune conditions of a person.
3. Microbial flora has Spatio-temporal complexity.
4. Viruses and parasites do not constitute the normal microflora.
5. Under normal conditions, microflora is harmless or even beneficial.
6. Any disturbances in the normal flora may harm the host through the consequence
of opportunistic microorganisms that may eventually cause disease or an
infection.
7. A human body is colonized with the normal flora once a neonate or newborn body
is passed through the mother’s vaginal tract or exposed to the environment.
8. A new born baby establishes the oral and nasopharyngeal flora within few hours.
9. After one day, resident flora establishes in the lower intestinal tract of the neonate .
• The normal flora of humans are exceedingly complex and consist of
more than 200 species of bacteria. The makeup of the normal flora may
be influenced by various factors, including genetics, age, sex, stress,
nutrition and diet of the individual.

• Three developmental changes in humans, weaning, the eruption of the

teeth and the onset and cessation of ovarian functions, invariably effect
the composition of he normal flora in the intestinal tract, the oral cavity,
and the vagina, respectively. However, within the limits of these
fluctuations, the bacterial flora of humans is sufficiently constant to a
give general description of the situation.
• Humans and flora are thought to be dynamic interactions rather
than associations of mutual indifference.

• The normal flora derive from their host a steady supply of

nutrients, a stable environment, and protection and transport.

• The host obtains from the normal flora certain nutritional and
digestive benefits, stimulation of the development and activity of
the immune system, and protection against colonisation and
infection by pathogenic microbes.

• Some are parasitic and others pathogenic.

• Endogenous diseases - are produced by the normal flora which

have taken the opportunity of the host loss of defence to infect.-
E.g. Chronic bronchitis

• Commensal relationship- No apparent benefit or harm to each

other.
 Areas of high moisture content
• Superficial layers of the epidermis, upper parts of hair follicles,
sebaceous glands
- Staph epidermidis; Staph aureus; Corynebacteria (Propionibacterium
acnes) ; Streptococci; Clostridium spp. (perineum and upper thighs)
❑ Skin: 3 main micro environments
❑ Axilla, perineum, toewebs
❑ Hands, face and trunk
❑ Upper arms and legs

❑ High moisture
❑ Blinking mechanically removes bacteria
❑ Lachrymal secretions include lysozyme Figure 4. Colonies of Propionibacterium acnes, found
on skin and the conjunctiva.
❑ Staph epidermidis and Propoinibacterium acnes dominate.
❑ Staph Aureus, Haemophilus sp. and Neisseria sp. occasionally found.
Figure 5. Lactobacillus species, possibly Doderlein’s bacillus
in association with a vaginal epithelial cell.
 The presence of nutrients, epithelial debris, and secretions makes
the mouth a favorable habitat for a great variety of bacteria. Oral
bacteria include streptococci, lactobacilli, staphylococci and
corynebacteria, with a great number of anaerobes, especially
bacteroides.
Figure 6. Various streptococci in a biofilm in the oral cavity.
The normal bacterial flora of the oral cavity clearly benefit from
their host who provides nutrients and habitat. There may be benefits,
as well, to the host.

The normal flora occupy available colonization sites which

makes it more difficult for other microorganisms (nonindigenous
species) to become established.

Figure 7. Colonies of E. coli growing on EMB agar.

• The effects of the normal flora are inferred by microbiologists from experimental comparisons
between "germ-free" animals (which are not colonised by any microbes) and conventional animals
(which are colonised with a typical normal flora).

• Briefly, some of the characteristics of a germ-free animals that are thought to be due to lack of
exposure to a normal flora are:

1. vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin K and vitamin B12

2. increased susceptibility to infectious disease

3. poorly developed immune system, especially in the gastrointestinal tract

4. lack of "natural antibody" or natural immunity to bacterial infection

4. The normal flora stimulate the development of certain tissues, The caecum of germ-free animals is
enlarged, thin-walled, and fluid-filled, compared to that organ in conventional animals.

• Based on the ability to undergo immunological stimulation, the intestinal lymphatic tissues of germ-free
animals are poorly-developed compared to conventional animals.

5. The normal flora stimulate the production of natural antibodies. Since the normal flora behave as antigens
in an animal, they induce an immunological response, in particular, an antibody-mediated immune (AMI)
response.

• Low levels of antibodies produced against components of the normal flora are known to cross react with
certain related pathogens, and thereby prevent infection or invasion.

• Antibodies produced against antigenic components of the normal flora are sometimes referred to as "natural"
antibodies, and such antibodies are lacking in germ-free animals.
• Some of which are observed in studies with germ-free animals, can be put in the following categories. All but
the last two are fairly insignificant.

1. Bacterial synergism between a member of the normal flora and a potential pathogen.

• This means that one organism is helping another to grow or survive.

2. Competition for nutrients Bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract must absorb some of the host's nutrients for
their own needs. However, in general, they transform them into other metabolisable compounds, but some
nutrient(s) may be lost to the host.

3. Induction of a low grade toxemia Minute amounts of bacterial toxins may be found in the circulation.

4. The normal flora may be agents of disease. Members of the normal flora may cause endogenous disease if
they reach a site or tissue where they cannot be restricted or tolerated by the host defenses.

Transfer to susceptible hosts Some pathogens of humans that are members of the normal flora may also rely on
their host for transfer to other individuals where they can produce disease.