BIOL 222 - Lecture 9: Microbiota & Microbiomes

community

a group of different species living together in the same environment and interacting

microbiome

the community of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms living on and inside the human body and other habitats

commensalists

live on or within a host without causing harm and may benefit themselves

host is generally unaffected

mutualists

organisms that benefit from a relationship and provide a benefit to the host in return

microbiota

the microorganisms living in a specific environment

microbiota - microorganisms, microbiome - their genomes

16S rRNA sequencing

way to identify which bacteria are in a sample by reading a special "name tag" gene that all bacteria have

metagenomics

instead of looking at just one gene, it looks at all the DNA in a sample

tells you what microbes are there and what they can do

broad spectrum

antibiotics that kill many different kinds of bacteria

work widely, not just on one type

correlative

correlative relationship shows an association between two factors but does not prove one causes the other

causative

shows that one factor directly causes another

dysbiosis

imbalance or disruption of the normal microbiota, often associated with disease or inflammation

microbial associated molecular patterns (MAMPs)

tiny molecular "signs" found on microbes (like bacteria or fungi) that help the body recognize that a microbe is present

things that are common on many microbes, don't appear on our own cells, and let the immune system know "hey, something foreign is here"

butyrate

healthy chemical made by good gut bacteria when they digest fiber

feeds the cells in your colon, reduces inflammation, helps keep your gut strong and healthy

probiotics

live bacteria that, when consumed in adequate amounts, provide health benefits to the host

prebiotics

compounds (usually types of fiber) that stimulate the growth or activity of beneficial bacteria in the gut

asthma

chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by airway inflammation, tightening of airway muscles, increased mucus production leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing

fecal transplant

procedure in which stool from a healthy donor is transferred to the gut of a patient to restore healthy microbiota

used to treat C. diff