Ierobeota

Ierobeota is a term used in microbiology to describe the collective community of microorganisms that inhabit the interior environments of a host, most notably the digestive tract. In practice it is closely related to, and often used interchangeably with, microbiota, but some authors reserve ierobeota to emphasize the internal ecological niche rather than external microbial assemblages.

Taxonomic composition varies by host and context, but the ierobeota of vertebrates typically includes bacteria from the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidota, as well as Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria. Archaea, fungi, and viruses are also present in smaller but meaningful abundances. Within hosts, communities shift with age, diet, medications, and disease state.

Functions attributed to ierobeota include fermentation of indigestible carbohydrates, synthesis of vitamins and other metabolites, maintenance of gut barrier integrity, and modulation of the immune system. Through microbial metabolites like short-chain fatty acids, bile acid transformations, and signaling molecules, ierobeota interacts with host metabolism and development.

Development and stability of ierobeota are influenced by birth and early-life exposures, diet, antibiotic use, and genetics. In adults, lifestyle factors and health status shape composition and function. Disturbances, or dysbiosis, have been associated with conditions such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, and metabolic syndrome.

Research methods to study ierobeota include metagenomic sequencing, 16S rRNA profiling, metabolomics, and culture-based approaches in germ-free or gnotobiotic models. Interventions aiming to modulate ierobeota—such as dietary changes, probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation—are areas of active investigation, with varying levels of evidence.