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Contribution of the Intestinal Microbiota to Human Health: From Birth to 100 Years of Age

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Between Pathogenicity and Commensalism

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 358))

Abstract

Our intestinal tract is colonized since birth by multiple microbial species that show a characteristic succession in time. Notably the establishment of the microbiota in early life is important as it appears to impact later health. While apparently stable in healthy adults, the intestinal microbiota is changing significantly during aging. After 100 years of symbiosis marked changes have been observed that may relate to an increased level of intestinal inflammation. There is considerable interest in the microbiota in health and disease as it may provide functional biomarkers, the possibility to differentiate subjects, and avenues for interventions. This chapter reviews the present state of the art on the research to investigate the contribution of the intestinal microbiota to human health. Specific attention will be given to the healthy microbiota and aberrations due to disturbances such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity and diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

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Abbreviations

BF:

Breast feeding

FF:

Formula feeding

CeD:

Celiac disease

TLRs:

Toll-like receptors

NOD:

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing

IBS:

Irritable bowel syndrome

HCs:

Healthy controls

IBD:

Inflammatory bowel diease

UC:

Ulcerative colitis

CD:

Crohn’s disease

TNBS:

2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid

SCFA:

Short chain fatty acid

BMI:

Body mass index

FIAF:

Fasting-induced adipose factor

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

T1D:

Type 1 diabetes

T2D:

Type 2 diabetes

DGGE:

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

NAFLD:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

NASH:

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

SIBO:

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

LGG:

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by the Academy of Finland and The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Jing Cheng, Airi M. Palva, Willem M. de Vos & Reetta Satokari

  2. Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Willem M. de Vos

  3. Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, 6703 HB, Wageningen, Netherlands

    Willem M. de Vos

Authors
  1. Jing Cheng
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  2. Airi M. Palva
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  3. Willem M. de Vos
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  4. Reetta Satokari
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reetta Satokari .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Institut für Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Robert-Koch-Str. 41, Münster, 48149, Germany

    Ulrich Dobrindt

  2. , Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften, Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leop, Emil-Abderhalden-Str. 37, Halle, 06108, Germany

    Jörg H. Hacker

  3. , Section of Microbiology, Immunology and, Lund University, Sölvegatan 23, Lund, 22362, Sweden

    Catharina Svanborg

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Cheng, J., Palva, A.M., de Vos, W.M., Satokari, R. (2011). Contribution of the Intestinal Microbiota to Human Health: From Birth to 100 Years of Age. In: Dobrindt, U., Hacker, J., Svanborg, C. (eds) Between Pathogenicity and Commensalism. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 358. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/82_2011_189

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