Host-Microbe Biology
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologySelected Immunological Mediators and Cervical Microbial Signatures in Women with Chlamydia trachomatis InfectionTo our knowledge, this is the first study that investigated the association of C. trachomatis with the cervical levels of lactoferrin and selected inflammatory mediators and their correlation with the different community state types characterizing the female genital ecosystem. C. trachomatis, known...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyAntibiotic Exposure Has Sex-Dependent Effects on the Gut Microbiota and Metabolism of Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Amino Acids in MiceAccumulating evidence shows that the gut microbiota regulates host metabolism by producing a series of metabolites, such as amino acids, bile acids, fatty acids, and others. These metabolites have a positive or negative effect on host health. Antibiotic exposure can disrupt the gut microbiota and thereby affect host metabolism and physiology. However, there are a limited number of studies addressing whether antibiotic effects on the gut...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyA Multi-omics Approach to Unraveling the Microbiome-Mediated Effects of Arabinoxylan Oligosaccharides in Overweight HumansThe use of dietary fiber food supplementation as a strategy to reduce the burden of diet-related diseases is a matter of study given its cost-effectiveness and the positive results demonstrated in clinical trials. This multi-omics assessment, on different biological samples of overweight subjects with signs of metabolic syndrome, sheds light on the early and less evident effects of short-term AXOS intake on intestinal microbiota and...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyLactate Metabolism Is Strongly Modulated by Fecal Inoculum, pH, and Retention Time in PolyFermS Continuous Colonic Fermentation Models Mimicking Young Infant Proximal ColonThe metabolism of lactate is important for infant gut health and may lead to acute lactate and/or H2 accumulation, pain, and crying as observed in colicky infants. Functional human studies often faced ethical challenges due to invasive medical procedures; thus, in this study, we implemented PolyFermS fermentation models to mimic the infant proximal colon, which were inoculated with immobilized fecal microbiota of two 2-month-...
Special Issue Perspective | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Significance of Microbial Symbionts in Ecosystem ProcessesIt is increasingly accepted that the microbial symbionts of eukaryotes can have profound effects on host ecology and evolution. However, the relative contribution that they make directly to ecosystem processes, like energy and nutrient flows, is less explicitly acknowledged and, in many cases, only poorly constrained.
Special Issue Perspective | Host-Microbe BiologyMetaproteomics: Much More than Measuring Gene Expression in Microbial CommunitiesMetaproteomics is the large-scale identification and quantification of proteins from microbial communities and thus provides direct insight into the phenotypes of microorganisms on the molecular level. Initially, metaproteomics was mainly used to assess the “expressed” metabolism and physiology of microbial community members.
Special Issue Perspective | Host-Microbe BiologyMissing Links: the Role of Primates in Understanding the Human MicrobiomeThe gut microbiome can influence host energy balances and metabolic programming. While this information is valuable in a disease context, it also has important implications for understanding host energetics from an ecological and evolutionary perspective.
Special Issue Perspective | Host-Microbe BiologyDefining Microbiome Health through a Host LensWe are walking ecosystems, inoculated at birth with a unique set of microbes that are integral to the functioning of our bodies. The physiology of our commensal microbiota is intertwined with our metabolism, immune function, and mental state.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyAge- and Sex-Dependent Patterns of Gut Microbial Diversity in Human AdultsMicroorganisms in the human gut play a role in health and disease, and in adults higher gut biodiversity has been linked to better health. Since gut microorganisms may be pivotal in the development of microbial therapies, understanding the factors that shape gut biodiversity is of utmost interest. We performed large-scale analyses of the relationship of age and sex to gut bacterial diversity in adult cohorts from four geographic regions...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologySocial-Stress-Responsive Microbiota Induces Stimulation of Self-Reactive Effector T Helper CellsHow do stressful life events increase the risk for autoimmune disorders? Here we show that chronic social stress in mice promotes the expression of virulent genes in the gut microbiota and alters the microbial translocation into the mesenteric lymph nodes. Our results also suggest that the consequent immune response to the stress-affected microbiota may endanger the tolerance for self. The presence of specific translocated bacteria and...