The interface between a mammalian host organism and the microflora in its intestinal lumen is the mucous gel layer and the underlying cell coat, or glycocalyx, of glycoconjugates on the apical surface of the epithelium. Oligosaccharides within this interface can serve as receptors for the attachment of microorganisms. The first challenge to would-be luminal pathogens is successful attachment to...

Alterations in the bowel flora and its activities are now believed to be contributing factors to many chronic and degenerative diseases. Irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis have all been linked to alterations in the intestinal microflora. The intestinal dysbiosis hypothesis suggests a number of factors associated with modern Wes...

The intestinal microflora of 1-y-old healthy Estonian (n = 27) and Swedish infants (n = 29) was studied by quantitative culture of faecal samples. The major differences were high counts of lactobacilli and eubacteria in the former and increased numbers of clostridia in the latter babies. Bifidobacteria and anaerobic cocci prevailed equally in both groups, while eubacteria and enterococci were t...

Whether the association with gut microflora modifies the energy metabolism of chickens was investigated by varying the metabolizable energy consumption level from zero to above the maintenance requirement in the germ-free and conventional states. Single comb White Leghorn chicks were either fasted for 3 d (Expt l), or fed for 6 d at a fixed daily meal intake of 2, 5 or 8 g/d (Expt 2), or 5, 10 ...

Whether the association with gut microflora modifies the energy metabolism of chickens was investigated by varying the metabolizable energy consumption level from zero to above the maintenance requirement in the germ-free and conventional states. Single comb White Leghorn chicks were either fasted for 3 d (Expt l), or fed for 6 d at a fixed daily meal intake of 2, 5 or 8 g/d (Expt 2), or 5, 10 ...

Enteral tube feeding is common in both the hospital and community environment; however, patients can suffer alterations in faecal output that can have serious clinical sequelae. Problems associated with accurate characterisation of faecal output and definition of diarrhoea impede the comparison of research studies and prevent standardised assessment of therapeutic interventions in clinical prac...

Background. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of clindamycin (150 mg qid for 10 days) and ciprofloxacin (500 mg bd for 10 days) on the skin, nasal, saliva and intestinal microflora of healthy humans for a period of one year In addition, the consequences of the emergence and persistence of clindamycin and ciprofloxacin resistant bacteria in the normal microflora were studied. Met...

Paired caeca are situated at the junction of the small and large intestine and they normally contain a stable population of bacteria of very many different types [1, 6]. The flow rate is low in these regions which would allow for greater microbial multiplication in the lumen [18]. It is impossible to make detail microbial analysis of this heterogenous composite because the estimation of the mos...

Enteric microflora profiles vary considerably between active inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and healthy conditions. Intestinal microflora may partake in the pathogenesis of IBD by one or some ways: specific pathogenic infection induces abnormal intestinal mucosal inflammation; aberrant microflora components trigger the onset of IBD; abnormal host immune response loses normal immune tolerance...

The progressive public use of antimicrobial clothes has raised issues concerning skin health. A placebo-controlled side-to-side study was run with antimicrobial clothes versus fabrics of similar structure but minus the antimicrobial activity, to evaluate possible adverse effects on the healthy skin microflora. Sixty volunteers were enrolled. Each participant received a set of form-fitting T-shi...