Understanding The Gut Microbiota

This book discusses the community of microbial species (the microbiota, microbiome), which inhabits the large bowel of humans. Written from the perspective of an academic who has been familiar with the topic for 40 years, it provides a long-term perspective of knowledge about this high profile and fast-moving topic. Building on general ecological principles, the book aims to help the reader to understand how the microbiota is formed, how it works, and what the consequences are to humans. Understanding the Gut Microbiota focuses on conceptual progress made from studies of the human bowel microbiota. Where appropriate, it draws on knowledge obtained from other animal species to provide conceptual enlightenment, but this is essentially a book about humans and their bowel microbes. Particular research approaches are recommended to fill knowledge gaps so that fundamental ecological theory and information about the microbiota can be translated into benefits for human health. The relationship between food for humans and resulting food for bowel bacteria emerges as an important topic for consideration. This concise scholarly treatise of the microbiota of the human bowel will be of great interest and use as a text and reference work for professionals, teachers and students across a wide range of disciplines, including the health sciences, general biology, and food science and technology. The provision of handy ‘explanation of terms’ means that those with a general interest in science can also read the book with enjoyment.

Given the at times confusing new information concerning the human microbiome released over the last few years, this book seeks to put the research field into perspective for non-specialists. Addressing a timely topic, it breaks down recent research developments in a way that everyone with a scientific background can understand. The book discusses why microorganisms are vital to our lives and how our nutrition influences the interaction with our own gut bacteria. In turn, it goes into more detail on how microbial communities are organised and why they are able to survive in the unique environment of our intestines. Readers will also learn about how their personal microbial profile is as unique as their fingerprint, and how it can be affected by a healthy or unhealthy lifestyle. Thanks to the open and easy-to-follow language used, the book offers an overview for all readers with a basic understanding of biology, and sheds new light on this fascinating and important part of our bodies.

Building off the success of the first edition, Gut Microbiota: Interactive Effects on Nutrition and Health, Second Edition, details the complex relationship between diet, the gut microbiota, and health. This second edition expands its coverage of emerging practical applications in nutrition and medicine. Covering topics such as the ecological concepts that apply to the gut microbiota and the effects of aging on the gut microbiome, among others, this book is sure to be a welcome resource to microbiome science trainees, food and nutrition researchers working in academia, and industry and healthcare professionals giving dietary recommendations to the general public. Presents diet, the gut microbiota, and health in a way that helps the reader interpret the value of related consumer tests and products Includes frequently asked questions that help clinicians provide succinct answers to their patients or clients Covers gut microbiota in the context of nutrition research and analyzes gaps in current knowledge to shape the design of future studies in this field

The Food Forum convened a public workshop on February 22-23, 2012, to explore current and emerging knowledge of the human microbiome, its role in human health, its interaction with the diet, and the translation of new research findings into tools and products that improve the nutritional quality of the food supply. The Human Microbiome, Diet, and Health: Workshop Summary summarizes the presentations and discussions that took place during the workshop. Over the two day workshop, several themes covered included: The microbiome is integral to human physiology, health, and disease. The microbiome is arguably the most intimate connection that humans have with their external environment, mostly through diet. Given the emerging nature of research on the microbiome, some important methodology issues might still have to be resolved with respect to undersampling and a lack of causal and mechanistic studies. Dietary interventions intended to have an impact on host biology via their impact on the microbiome are being developed, and the market for these products is seeing tremendous success. However, the current regulatory framework poses challenges to industry interest and investment.

The Gut-Brain Axis: Dietary, Probiotic, and Prebiotic Interventions on the Microbiota, Second Edition presents the most advances on how the gut microbiome influences central nervous system and brain function introduced in the first edition. The book also describes how environmental influences which affect the microbiota, including, diet, exercise, and early-life, impact on the gut-brain axis. The second edition contains new chapters on metabolomics and the gut-brain-axis; dietary factors in the maintenance of a healthy brain ; the role of gut microbes in neurodegenerative disorders; the link between exercise and the gut-brain-axis; and infant Nutrition, the microbiome and neurodevelopment. In addition, the second edition presents coverage of mechanisms underlying neurological disease; approaches to investigate the role of the microbiome in brain and behavior, and 'next generation' probiotics and prebiotics. The Gut-Brain Axis: Dietary, Probiotic, and Prebiotic Interventions on the Microbiota, Second Edition continues to be the “go-to resource for further exploration of the microbiota. Includes new chapters focused on metabolomics and the gut-brain axis; dietary polyphenols to maintain healthier brain measures and cognitive function; the role of gut microbes in Parkinson’s Disease; the microbiota-gut-brain axis in psychosis; exploration of exercise and the gut-brain axis; and coverage of pediatric nutrition Updated chapters reflect on the most recent advances on the role of the microbiome and gut-brain axis in early-life, aging, cognition, metabolism, neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as on the enteric nervous system Addresses the role of diet and the gut-brain axis across several chapters with unique author insights and perspectives Examines common mechanisms and pathways by which the microbiota may influence brain and behavior Discusses strategies to explore the contribution of the microbiome to the gut-brain axis; methods to enhance therapeutic strategies targeted toward the microbiota; and presents a case study demonstrating a rational screening approach to increase translational success

Comprehensive Gut Microbiota provides new insights into gut microbiota as a critical mediator of human health and well-being. Comprehensive chapters, split across three volumes, present trusted and authoritative sources of information for novel human gut microbiome and health research. The book focuses on the fascinating intestinal microbiome and its interaction with food, food bioactive components, nutrition and human health. Chapters address the core science in the microbiota field and draw links between the microbiome, food, nutrition and health interaction. The text reflects the current state of evidence available in the field of microbiota, its regulation at the individual and population level, and the importance of the microbiome to human health. Each section includes introductory chapters presenting the key concepts about the section objective. Later sections focus on the novel findings of the gut microbiome, food and nutrition science. Human studies and systematic literature reviews are also discussed throughout the work. Provides a comprehensive introduction to gut microbiota research and its role and relation to human health Consolidates new research on how gut microbiota affects nutrition and vice versa, offering increased understanding of methodologies and the complexity of microbiome-health science Written by leading experts from various fields and regions to ensure that the knowledge within is easily understood by, and applicable to, a large audience

Allergies, asthma, obesity, acne: these are just a few of the conditions that may be caused—and someday cured—by the microscopic life inside us. The key is to understand how this groundbreaking science influences your health, mood, and more. In just the last few years, scientists have shown how the microscopic life within our bodies— particularly within our intestines—has an astonishing impact on our lives. Your health, mood, sleep patterns, eating preferences—even your likelihood of getting bitten by mosquitoes—can be traced in part to the tiny creatures that live on and inside of us. In Follow Your Gut, pioneering scientist Rob Knight pairs with award-winning science journalist Brendan Buhler to explain—with good humor and easy-to-grasp examples—why these new findings matter to everyone. They lead a detailed tour of the previously unseen world inside our bodies, calling out the diseases and conditions believed to be most directly impacted by them. With a practical eye toward deeper knowledge and better decisions, they also explore the known effects of antibiotics, probiotics, diet choice and even birth method on our children’s lifelong health. Ultimately, this pioneering book explains how to learn about your own microbiome and take steps toward understanding and improving your health, using the latest research as a guide.

Gut Microbiota in Neurologic and Visceral Diseases presents readers with comprehensive information on the involvement of microbiota in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Chapters cover the effect of microbiota on the development of visceral (obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease) and neurological disorders (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, depression, anxiety, and autism). Sections focus on the molecular mechanisms and signal transduction processes associated with the links among microbiota-related visceral and neurological disorders. It is hoped that this discussion will not only integrate and consolidate knowledge in this field but will also jumpstart more studies on the involvement of microbiota in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Reviews the relationship between gut microbiome, diseases and disorders Discusses the relationship between diet, microbiota and inflammation Includes neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular disorders Covers diabetes, obesity and metabolic disorders Identifies molecular mechanisms and signal transduction processes Encompasses dietary fiber, fat, prebiotics and probiotics