Hostmicrobial

Hostmicrobial refers to the set of interactions between a host organism and its resident microbial communities, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses. These microbes inhabit various sites such as the gastrointestinal tract, skin, oral cavity, respiratory and urogenital tracts, and other tissues. The relationships range from mutualistic, where both host and microbe benefit, to commensal, where microbes benefit without harming the host, to parasitic or pathogenic, where microbes can cause disease.

The functions of hostmicrobial communities are diverse. They assist in digestion and metabolism of complex substrates, synthesize vitamins and signaling molecules, and contribute to the development and education of the immune system. Microbes help maintain mucosal barrier integrity and provide colonization resistance against pathogens. In some hosts, microbiota can influence energy balance, development, and even behavior through signaling pathways.

Composition and activity of hostmicrobial communities are dynamic and influenced by factors such as genetics, age, diet, environment, antibiotic exposure, and health status. Early-life microbial encounters shape later physiology, and disruptions can be associated with disease states. Researchers study these systems using sequencing-based profiling, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, often complemented by culture-based methods and experiments in germ-free or gnotobiotic models.

Applications and implications of hostmicrobial research include the development of probiotics and prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and microbiome-targeted therapies. Understanding hostmicrobial interplay holds relevance for human health, agriculture, and ecology, while also presenting challenges in establishing causality, individual variability, and translating findings across species.