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My name is Sheena Cruickshank,
and I'm going to be talking
about applications of the
microbiome and beyond.
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Our microbiome
actually refers to
the genetic content of
all the microorganisms that
live inside us and on us,
the microbiota, which
includes bacteria,
fungi, viruses,
and possibly some parasites.
Our microbiome is very diverse
across our body and even
within our tissues.
For example, in the gut,
we see a different
microbial community
in the stomach, the small
intestine, and the colon.
We currently know most
about bacteria overall,
but that is not to say that
other microbes are not
playing critical roles.
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The microbiota is acquired
at birth, and this is very
dependent on the mode of birth
as well as gestational age.
Overall, infants born by
Cesarean section have been
reported to harbor
a lower relative
abundance of Bacteroides,
Lactobacillus, and
Bifidobacterial,
compared to vaginally
delivered babies.
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Infants are generally born
with no microbiota, and
the gut microbiota gradually
assembles after birth.
Remarkably, this developmental
process occurs in
a predictable manner with
specific bacterial
groups or taxa,
establishing at distinct
points in infant life.
Thereafter, other factors come
into play, such as the way
that epithelial cells and
immune cells interact
with the microbiota,
the diet that we have, and
antibiotics and other
drugs that we use.
Even interactions between
individual microbes
will influence how the
microbiota goes on to develop.
For example, Klebsiella exploits
the pioneer microorganism
Staphylococcus,
which is one of the
first microorganisms
that we develop in our gut.
It uses this to gain
a foothold within the
gut such that you see
an increase in Klebsiella,
whereas Staphylococcus
becomes decreased.
