3 QUESTIONS

• What is microbiome?
 An ecosystem of bacteria

• Where is the microbiome?

 Gut, skin, eyes….many sites on the body
 Soil, air, water…..bacteria thrive everywhere

• How big is the microbiome?

 Your body has 10-100 trillion cells
 You have about ten times more bacteria cells than human cells
 The vast majority of these bacteria are good for you-even essential(~80%)
 INTRODUCTION TO
GUT MICROBIOME
• “ our forgotten organ “
• Also known as gut flora
• What is gut microbiome??
consists tens of trillions of microorganisms, including at least 1000
different species of known bacteria with more than 3 million genes
(150 times more than human genes).
in total, weigh up to 2 kg, specific between individual, in other words,
the microbiome in your intestine is like an individual identity card.
• Where can find it ??
As its name states, gut microbiome can be found in the intestine, one of the main
areas in our bodies that comes into contact with the external environment.

• When does it start developing ??

Sterile inside the uterus, the newborn’s digestive tract is quickly colonised by
microorganisms from the mother (vaginal, faecal, skin, breast, etc.), the
environment in which the delivery takes place, the air, etc.
From the third day, the composition of the intestinal flora is directly dependent on
how the infant is fed
 Breastfed babies’ gut microbiota, for example, is mainly dominated by
Bifidobacteria, compared to babies nourished with infant formulas.
 By the age of 3, microbiome becomes stable and similar to that of adults,
continuing its evolution
• How does it evolve ???
• “ The composition of our microbiome evolves throughout our entire life, from birth to
old age, and is the result of different environmental influences “
• Gut microbiome’s balance can be affected during the ageing process and, consequently, the
elderly have substantially different microbiota to younger adults.
• While the general composition of the intestinal microbiota is similar in most healthy
people, the species composition is highly specific and largely determined by our
environment and our diet.
• The composition of gut microbiome may become accustomed(common) to dietary
components, either temporarily or permanently. Japanese people, for example, can
digest seaweeds (part of their daily diet) thanks to specific enzymes that their
microbiome has acquired from marine bacteria.
• Although it can adapt to change, a loss of balance in gut microbiome may arise
in some specific situations.
• This is called dysbiosis. Dysbiosis may be linked to health problems such as
functional bowel disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies,
obesity and diabetes.
• Many studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of prebiotics(chemical
that induce growth) and probiotics(live bacteria and yeast that are
good) on our gut microbiome.
• Serving as “food” for beneficial bacteria, prebiotics help improve the
functioning of microbiome while allowing the growth and activity of some
“good” bacteria.
• Present in some fermented products such as yoghourt, probiotics help gut
microbiota keep its balance, integrity and diversity
 ROLE OF GUT MICROBIOME
 It helps the body to digest certain foods that the stomach and small intestine
have not been able to digest.
 It helps with the production of some vitamins (B and K).
 It helps us combat aggressions from other microorganisms, maintaining the
wholeness of the intestinal mucosa.
 It plays an important role in the immune system, performing a barrier effect.
A healthy and balanced gut microbiota is key to ensuring proper digestive
functioning
From the research, gut microbes have an affect on inflammation, pain,
eating behaviors, food cravings, mood and other seemingly unrelated
symptoms, such as depression or uncontrolled anxiety.
 Essential in digestion.
- Produce enzyme and allow their
stored energy and nutrients to be
absorbed by the gut.
A D VA N T A G E S O F
GUT MICROBIOME
Integrity of the intestinal wall
if it becomes hyperpermeable, leads
to leaky gut syndrome, in turn linked
to chronic inflammation because our
bodies attack these foreigners that
get into our bloodstream.
Aid the production of certain
vitamins,
especially vitamin K and most
vitamin B including folates, thiamine,
riboflavin and biotin
Play an important role in our body immune
system.
-The gut flora train and interact with the
neurons in the immune system and give
them signals to be alert, strong and
protective
 Metabolic syndrome.
gut microbiota shows important
Weight gain.
in development of obesity and
• Disruption of
metabolic disorders, through its
flora by high fat
interactions with environmental
diet (HFD) and
and genetic factors
antibiotics.
• Inflammation
DISADVANTAGES
OF GUT
indirect role in
MICROBIOME cancer
Cause inflammation,
Cause several disease. which appears to
Eg. Diabetes and food increase cancer risk.
allergy. -For example, H.
pylori.
 EXAMPLE OF GUT MICROBIOME
1. Clostridium difficile

- Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria

- Release toxins that attack the lining of the intestines, causing a condition called
Clostridium difficile colitis.
- Can lead to watery diarrhea, with abdominal pain or tenderness. In some cases, C. diff
infection can lead to a hole in the intestines, which can be fatal if not treated
immediately.

2. Helicobacter pylori

- Gram-negative, helical shape microaerophilic bacterium

- An infection can lead to stomach cancer. It attacks the lining of stomach and can cause
ulcers.
- These may bleed, cause infections, or keep food from moving through your digestive
tract.
3. Bacteroides fragilis

- Obligate anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium.

- Part of the normal flora of the human colon and is generally commensal
- but can cause infection if displaced into the bloodstream or surrounding
tissue following surgery, disease, or trauma.
- Resistant to penicllin.

4. Ruminococcus flavefaciens

- Anaerobic, cellulolytic bacterium

- Play an important role in the digestion of hemicellulose and cellulose plant
cell walls.
- They possess "cellulosomes," which are surface structures anchored to
the bacterial cell wall and consist of a scaffold to which attach several
different carbohydrate binding modules possessing cellulase and
hemicellulase activities.
 EX AMPLES O F M ETABOL IC D I SEASE
o D I S E A S E S O R D I S O R D E R S T H AT D I S R U P T N O R M A L M E TA B O L I S M , T H E
P RO C E S S O F C O N V E RT I N G F O O D TO E N E R G Y O N A C E L L U L A R L E V E L .

o E X A M P L E S : I N F L A M M AT O RY B O W E L D I S E A S E ( I B D ) , U R I N A RY T R A C T
I N F E C T I O N , S E P S I S , P N E U M O N I A A N D S E R R AT I A I N F E C T I O N .

o B U T Y R AT E - P R O D U C I N G B A C T E R I A - F A E C A L I B A C T E R I U M P R A U S N I T Z I I &
R O S E B U R I A S P. - I M P O R T A N T F O R H E A L T H Y C O L O N - A L T E R A T I O N :
I N F L A M M AT O RY B O W E L D I S E A S E ( I B D ) .

o B U T Y R AT E ( C O L O N ) - B R I N G S F AT S A N D O T H E R N U T R I E N T S F R O M T H E
D I G E S T I V E T R AC T TO T H E L I V E R .

o S H I F T S I N B U T Y R AT E - P R O D U C I N G B A C T E R I A C A U S E D B Y B I O A V A I L A B I L I T Y
O F S U B S T R AT E O R C H A N G E S I N G U T M I C R O B I A L M E M B E R S H I P A N D
A BU N DA N CE :
- drastically change the production and amount of short-chain fatty acids that is delivered to the gut and
distal organs.
o E. coli - common cause of urinary tract infection
o Symptoms: urinary frequency, dysuria, hematuria, pyuria

o Flank pain is associated with upper tract infection.

o Urinary tract infection can result in bacteremia with clinical signs of sepsis.

o When normal host defences are inadequate, E coli may reach the bloodstream

and cause sepsis.

o Newborns may be highly susceptible to E coli sepsis because they lack IgM

antibodies. Sepsis may occur secondary to urinary tract infection.

HOW GUT MICROBIOME CAUSES METABOLIC DISEASES

o Atherosclerosis patients : higher levels of Collinsella , lower levels of Eubacterium and Roseburia in

their gut microbiota.

o Butyrate-producing bacteria - anti-inflammatory (e.g., Roseburia spp. and Faecalibacterium spp.) -

less abundant in type 2 diabetic patients.

o Insulin sensitivity and levels of butyrate-producing bacteria increased in patients with the

metabolic syndrome after transplantation with intestinal microbiota.

o Gastric bypass surgery in obese patients not only promotes sustained weight reduction but also

reduces the risks of in type 2 diabetic and cardiovascular mortality

o F. prausnitzii was decreased in obese in type 2 diabetetic patients and increased after surgery.

The levels of F. prausnitzii negatively correlated with inflammatory markers, thus indicating that

this microbe may contribute to the amelioration of in type 2 diabetes after gastric bypass by

modulating systemic inflammation.

o Gut bacteria are more efficient at breaking down food, enabling the body to absorb more

calories, easier to gain weight.

o Less-efficient bacteria allow food to pass more quickly through the intestines.

o Aberrant gut microbiota in obese and gut microbial metabolic activities (carbohydrate

fermentation & bile acid metabolism), can impact on physiological functions linked to obesity.
O