Mikrobioota

Mikrobioota refers to the complex community of microorganisms that inhabit a particular environment, such as the human body. In humans, mikrobioota is most often discussed in relation to the gut, but distinct communities exist on the skin, in the oral cavity, the respiratory tract, and the urogenital tract. The mikrobioota includes bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, together with their collective genetic material, known as the microbiome.

Composition and variation vary by location in the body and over time. The gut microbiota, for example, is dominated by bacterial phyla such as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, with additional contributions from Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and others, as well as archaea, fungi, and bacteriophages. Microbial communities are influenced by age, diet, geography, medications (notably antibiotics), health status, and lifestyle. Each site has a characteristic community that can shift in response to internal and external factors.

Functions of the mikrobioota are diverse and essential for host health. They aid in digestion and fermentation of complex carbohydrates, synthesize certain vitamins, metabolize bile acids and drugs, train and regulate the immune system, protect against pathogens through colonization resistance, and help maintain the integrity of barrier tissues.

Clinical relevance and research aspects: disruptions to microbial balance, or dysbiosis, have been associated with inflammatory and metabolic diseases, infections, allergies, and other conditions. Therapeutic approaches include dietary modifications, probiotics and prebiotics, and, in some cases, fecal microbiota transplantation. Studying mikrobioota employs sequencing technologies and multi-omics to understand composition, function, and host interactions, acknowledging substantial individual variability.