Enteric bacteria are major microorganisms that colonise human’s gastrointestinal tract- a long tube containing specialised sections such as the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum and the anus. Gut bacteria make up approximately 95 percent of the total cells in the body, with the colon containing the densest microbial communities (Gibson, Rastall and Fuller 2008: 52). Human gastrointestinal tract consists of 100 different prokaryotic species, and with two bacterial species, firmicutes and bacteroicidetes dominating them (Brooker et al. 2011: 559).
The general make up of enteric bacteria is influenced by various factors including: microbial species obtained from birth, use of antibiotics, dietary intake and genetic material. Diet plays a major role in the gut environment and, changes in dietary nutrients such as, carbohydrates, fats and proteins can have a huge impact on the composition of gut bacteria. The digestion of food in the gastrointestinal tract is vital in humans, however, humans do not code for all the enzymes required to breakdown non-digestible substances and so they rely on enteric bacteria to degrade: resistant starch, non digestible carbohydrates and mucin (Scott et al. 2013:52-69).
This essay will focus on how gut bacteria can affect weight and, the mutualistic relationship between gut bacteria and the human in maintaining normal health.
Gut bacteria keep humans healthy by stimulating the digestive process within the large intestines. In order for nutrients to be successfully absorbed in the colon, non-digestible carbohydrates are degraded by beneficial gut microbial. One example of an anaerobically respiring bacterium which dominates the large intestine is bacteroide thetaiotaomicron. This bacteri...
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... from< http://www.bpgastro.com/article/S1521-6918(13)00061-9/fulltext> [29 August 2013]
Willey,J., Sherwood, L., Woolverton, C. (2011) Prescott’s Microbiology. New York:McGraw-Hill, 729
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661812002083).
Willey,J., Sherwood, L., Woolverton, C. (2011) Prescott’s Microbiology. New York:McGraw-Hill, 729
Cani, P., Possemiers, S., Wiele, T., Guiot, Y., Everard, A., Rottier, O., Geurts, L., Naslain, D., Neyrinck, A., Lambert, D., Muccioli, G., Delzenne, N. (2009) ‘Changes in gut microbiota control inflammation in obese mice through a mechanism involving GLP-2-driven improvement of gut permeability’ NCBI [online] 58 (8), 1091–1103. Available from < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702831/> [11 november 2011]
Willey,J., Sherwood, L., Woolverton, C. (2011) Prescott’s Microbiology. New York:McGraw-Hill, 756
Enterococcus faecalis is a genus of gram positive cocci and form short chains or are arranged in pairs. They are nonmotile, facultative anaerobic organisms and can survive in harsh conditions in nature. There are over 15 species of the Enterococcus genus but about 90% of clinical isolates are E. faecalis. E. faecalis is a nosocomial pathogen because it is commonly found in the hospital environment and can cause life-threatening infections in humans. It is a bacterium that normally inhabits the intestinal tract in humans and animals but when found in other body locations it can cause serious infections. The most common sites for E. faecalis infections are the heart, bloodstream, urinary tract, and skin wounds. Due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, many antibiotics have been shown ineffective in the treatment. In this paper, I will describe the ecology and pathology of E. faecalis; the antibacterial resistance; treatment; and, what you can do to prevent Enterococcus infection.
Jennifer Ackerman's main focus in her article The Ultimate Social Network, is that of the functions concerning bacteria within humans. Although scientists have had presumptions about humans being proficient in governing their body’s innermost structure, they soon come to recognize the sophistication of our inner space which holds an extensive plethora of bacteria and other microorganisms that lie within each and every one of us. Moreover, scientists' new and emerging view of how the human body operates, and the cause of increasing present-day diseases (i.e. obesity and different autoimmune disorders) are uncovered by analyzing effects of certain microbe species in our bodies. By italicizing on points such as the above, in conjunction with bacteria's genetic variations, and modern computing technology, the author proves that scientists are quickly progressing with the characterization the most prevalent species of microbes, which, in her opinion, is definitely paying off.
Escherichia coli is a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a bacterium with a cell wall that has many components. Escherichia coli can live without oxygen which means that it is a facultative anaerobe. It is also capable of fermenting lactose under anaerobic conditions, and in the absence of alternative electron acceptors. There are effects and various factors that limit its growth rate. Its morphology consists of a rod-shaped gram negative bacteria that is commonly found in soil, water, vegetation, human intestines, as well as the intestines of animals. Its presence can be good or bad.
It is now becoming the focus of a growing number of research initiatives and new insights are rapidly emerging. Under normal physiological conditions, the human microbiome mediates the digestion of food and stimulates the development of the immune system. It prevents pathogens from invading tissues and organs as well as helping to strengthen it. There are numerous factors that contribute to the shaping of the human microbiome including genetics, mode of birth, infant feeding patterns and diet. Groundbreaking research has recently shown that the enteric nervous system plays a pivotal role in the overall assembly of our microbiome and has even been described at the ‘second brain’. The enteric nervous system is a subdivision of our nervous system and is found embedded in the lining of our
The gut microbiota obtains its nutrients from various sources such as consumed dietary ingredients and host-derived requirements like epithelial cells and mucus. Microorganisms utilize these substrates to produce energy to modulate cellular processes, metabolism and growth. The gut encompasses pathways for carbohydrate, lipid and amino acid metabolism (6). Interestingly, the gut flora’s metabolic action is both adaptive and renewable. Through the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), B vitamins and vitamin K, commensal bacteria mutualistically interact with intestinal epithelial cells to promote differentiation, proliferation and absorption from the bowel. Jointly, this metabolic mechanism preserves valuable energy and digestible substrates for the host, all while supplying energy and nutrients for growth (9). SCFAs (mainly acetate, butyrate and propionate) are the final products of the carbohydrate fermentation of dietary fibers, and exhibit many positive influences in countering metabolic and inflammatory disorders, for instance, obesity, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. This is accomplished via the activation of G-protein-coupled receptors and alteration of transcription factors (17, 18). The microbial assembly of SCFAs, TMA, acetaldehyde and inflammatory regulators control the metabolic fitness of the host through pathways that affect gut motility, immune function and satiety (19). An example of a lipid metabolic activity that relates the gut flora to dyslipidemia (excessive amount of lipids) is the hydrolysation of bile salts, which are steroid acids manufactured in the liver from cholesterol and secreted in bile to accelerate absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, along with the metabol...
Among hospitalized patients around the world, Clostridium difficile is the primary source of infectious diarrhea. Previously, continuously unbalanced intestinal microbiota, usually due to antimicrobials, was deemed a precondition of developing the infection. However, recently, there have been alterations in the biology from virtually infecting the elderly population exclusively, wherein the microbiota in their guts have been interrupted by antimicrobials, to currently infecting individuals within of all age groups displaying no recent antimicrobial use. Furthermore, recent reports have confirmed critical occurrences among groups previously assumed to be of minimal risk—pregnant women, children, and individuals with no previous exposure to antimicrobials, for instance. Unfortunately, this Gram-positive, toxin-producing anaerobic bacterium is estimated to cost US critical care facilities $800 million per year at present, suggesting the need for effective measures to eliminate this nosocomial infection (Yakob, Riley, Paterson, & Clements, 2013).
Diabetes is a metabolic disease, that causes a person to have high blood pressure. There are two kinds of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 is the loss of insulin producing cells, leading to a deficiency of insulin. Type 2 diabetes is where the person is insulin resistant. Insulin is a peptide hormone, which causes cells to absorb the various glucose it requires. Type 2 diabetes is the most widespread endocrine disease worldwide. Metagenome wide associated study took on a study that was based on the determination of type 2 diabetes and relationship to gut microbial by using the deep shot gun sequencing of the gut microbial. The study consisted of 345 Chinese's individuals that were used to help find any relationships. 60000 type 2 diabetes associated markers were used and linked to type 2 diabetes. Gut microbes are living organisms that live in the gut and the digestive tract. Patients with type 2 diabetes were characterized by a moderate degree of gut microbial symbiosis. Symbiosis is a interaction between different microbial organisms, there are various types of symbiosis such as mutalistic, parasitic and communalistic. The abundance of butyrate producing bacteria as well as the opportunistic pathogens were determined as well. Enrichment of microbial functions due to sulphate reduction and oxidative stress resistance was found. Further studies were also performed with addition of individuals to the study. Gut microbial markers may be useful for classifying type 2 diabetes.
Human intestinal microflora is diverse and complex in nature affecting our health either positively or negatively.
Our body consists of 90% of bacteria. That means that for every cell that we have in our body, we have 9 bacterial cells living along with it. Granted that most of the bacteria live inside the intestinal tract, but without a proper immune system keeping the digestive system in check, we would not be properly digesting food or have healthy bodies.
E. coli are bacteria that can cause an infection in various parts of your body, including your intestines. E. coli bacteria normally live in the intestines of people and animals. Most types of E. coli do not cause infections, but some produce a poison (toxin) that can cause diarrhea. Depending on the toxin, this can cause mild or severe diarrhea.
What is Gut Microbiota? Community small microorganism that inhabits the entire length of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is known as gut microbiota. The gut microbiota is mainly composed of bacteria from two major phyla: Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes are the two major phyla that occur inside the gut but there are some less abundant phyla also present such as Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Euryachaeota, and Verrucomicrobia (1)(2). The density and composition of the human gut microbiota is described in Figure 1. These gut microbiotas possess numerous other metabolic abilities and activities, such as changing diet and other lifestyle factors can alter gut microbiota balance (dysbiosis) and cause increase intestinal permeability (3,(4)(5).(Figure
Not enough studies have been done to confirm if feces samples can be a valid representation of the large intestine microbial population. There are vast changes that occur from the stomach to the rectum. This leads to the conclusion that the microbes would also change along the digestive tract. (Dougal et al 2012). Schoster et al. reports that in order to have a positive representation from fecal samples, the microbes must have shed when the sampling took place. It is unknown how often shedding occurs or how often fecal samples should be taken in order to determine the amount of shedding. This pertains to probiotics as well (Schoster et al. 2014). In opposition to those studies, other studies have shown that fecal samples can be a satisfying representation (Costa and Weese 2012). Dougal et al. reported that the feces most closely represented the microbes from the colon, but not the cecum. In this case, feces may not be appropriate to use when deciphering diseases where the cecum needs to be studied. Schoster et al. found that feces best represented the microbes located in the cecum (Schoster et al. 2013). In 2010, Sadet-Bourgeteau et al. conducted a study that showed there was a similarity between the two areas, suggesting that the microbial population does not abruptly change, but changes slowly (Dougal et al. 2012). With so many factors that can change a result, it is difficult to determine the best
Did you know that 80% of your immune system is in your gut? Eating, or in this case drinking, probiotics can help balance the delicate system in your gut and help your overall health.
Gastroenteritis, sometimes referred to as infectious diarrhoea is a common disease that affects millions of people annually. It is a disease caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites that enter the human body and spread, which induce symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and nausea. Although it is a common occurrence in society and is usually not harmful, cases of gastroenteritis in less developed countries may have more fatal repercussions due to their inability to access ample means of treatment. Over time, as more research was conducted into the disease, scientific developments were made to aid those affected by gastroenteritis and reduce the number of fatalities by educating people regarding preventative methods.