INTRODUCTION The human body is colonized by a wide variety of micro-organisms, which are known to play an important role in regulation of metabolic functions and maintaining immune homeostasis. Instantaneously after birth, skin surface, oral cavity, and gut are settled by extensive range of microbes, mainly bacteria, but also archaea, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. Commonly called human microbio...

Phagocytes patrol intestinal fungi Maintaining a healthy balance of gut bacteria can promote good health. Leonardi et al. show that fungi can also interact with gut immune cells to maintain intestinal wellbeing. CX3CR1 mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs) patrol the intestine and promote antifungal immunity. Genetic deletion of CX3CR1 in MNPs caused colitis-like symptoms in mice. CX3CR1 polymorphisms ...

Unlike vertically transmitted endosymbionts, which have broad effects on their host's germ line, the extracellular gut microbiota is transmitted horizontally and is not known to influence the germ line. Here we provide evidence supporting the influence of these gut bacteria on the germ line of Drosophila melanogaster. Removal of the gut bacteria represses oogenesis, expedites maternal-to-zygoti...

BACKGROUND The interplay between diet, gut bacteria and health still remain enigmatic. Here, we addressed this issue through the investigation of the effect of crystalline cellulose on the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris gut microbiota composition and survival. METHODS Earthworm gut contents were analyzed after 14 days of feeding using a mixed 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach, in addition to ...

BACKGROUND The gut of human harbors diverse commensal microbiota performing an array of beneficial role for the hosts. In the present study, the major commensal gut bacteria isolated by culturing methods from 15 children of moderate income families, aged between 10 and 24 months, were studied for their response to different antibiotics, and the molecular basis of drug resistance. RESULTS Of 1...

We show for the first time that the ventral diverticulum of the mosquito gut (impermeable sugar storage organ) harbors microorganisms. The gut diverticulum from newly emerged and non-fed Aedes aegypti was dissected under aseptic conditions, homogenized and plated on BHI medium. Microbial isolates were identified by sequencing of 16S rDNA for bacteria and 28S rDNA for yeast. A direct DNA extract...

The gut microflora of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, is receiving increasing attention as a potential determinant of the bees' health and their efficacy as pollinators. Studies have focused primarily on the microbial taxa that appear numerically dominant in the bee gut, with the assumption that the dominant status suggests their potential importance to the bees' health. However, numerically min...

Gut microbes are essential components of the human organism-helping us metabolize food into energy, produce micronutrients, and shape our immune systems. Having a particular pattern of gut microbes is also increasingly being linked to medical conditions including obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and diabetes. Recent studies now indicate that our resident intestinal bacteria may also play a ...

The composition of the mammalian gut bacterial communities can be influenced by the introduction of environmental bacteria in their respective habitats. However, there are no extensive studies examining the interactions between environmental bacteriome and gut bacteriome in wild mammals. Here, we explored the relationship between the gut bacterial communities of pika (Ochotona spp.) and the rel...

Commensal gut bacteria benefit their host in many ways, for instance by aiding digestion and producing vitamins. In a new study in The EMBO Journal, Jones et al (2013) report that commensal bacteria can also promote intestinal epithelial renewal in both flies and mice. Interestingly, among commensals this effect is most specific to Lactobacilli, the friendly bacteria we use to produce cheese an...