The importance of good flora

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1: Science. 2005 Mar 25;307(5717):1915-20. Related Articles, Links

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Host-bacterial mutualism in the human intestine.

Backhed F, Ley RE, Sonnenburg JL, DA, Gordon JI.

Center for Genome Sciences, Washington University School of

Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA.

The distal human intestine represents an anaerobic bioreactor

programmed with an enormous population of bacteria, dominated by

relatively few divisions that are highly diverse at the

strain/subspecies level. This microbiota and its collective genomes

(microbiome) provide us with genetic and metabolic attributes we have

not been required to evolve on our own, including the ability to

harvest otherwise inaccessible nutrients. New studies are revealing

how the gut microbiota has coevolved with us and how it manipulates

and complements our biology in ways that are mutually beneficial. We

are also starting to understand how certain keystone members of the

microbiota operate to maintain the stability and functional

adaptability of this microbial organ.

Publication Types:

* Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

* Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

* Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

* Review

PMID: 15790844 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]