The gastrointestinal microbiome as a biological process encompasses the dynamic interactions, succession, and functional activities of microbial communities residing along the digestive tract and their continuous crosstalk with the host. It involves microbial colonization, competition, and cooperation; fermentation of dietary substrates; synthesis and biotransformation of metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and bile acid derivatives; modulation of epithelial barrier integrity; and regulation of local and systemic immune responses. This process is characterized by context-dependent compositional shifts (e.g., in response to diet, xenobiotics, and inflammation) that influence host metabolism, signaling pathways, and susceptibility to gastrointestinal and extraintestinal diseases.
Researchers at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) are studying the relationship between the genetics of Nelore cattle and the microorganisms in their guts (microbiota). Nelore cattle are the most widely ...
Agriculture
Nov 3, 2026
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An interdisciplinary team of researchers from UConn and the University of Pittsburgh is filling knowledge gaps about the surprising roles that our microbiomes play in our health. The team's recent studies, published in Gastro ...
Cell & Microbiology
Nov 3, 2026
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The totality of bacteria, viruses and fungi that exist in and on a multicellular organism forms its natural microbiome. The interactions between the body and these microorganisms significantly influence the host organism's ...
Ecology
Nov 2, 2026
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36
Microbiologists have found that an enzyme not normally associated with microbial activities in the human gut has a role in how some bacteria access key nutrients in breast milk.
Cell & Microbiology
Nov 2, 2026
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39
Inside the gut, on the surface of the skin and lining your ears, mouth and nose are colonies of millions of microbes. For every human cell you have, there are at least as many microbial cells associated with your body.
Cell & Microbiology
Oct 29, 2026
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11
A new study led by Kumar Venkitanarayanan, dean of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), has shown that plant-based antimicrobials are a promising path toward controlling antibiotic resistance ...
Cell & Microbiology
Oct 27, 2026
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13
Biological clocks are often associated with light. Historically, most people started their days when the sun was up and ended their days when the sun set. But new research from Carnegie Mellon University suggests that some ...
Cell & Microbiology
Oct 22, 2026
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Scientists know a great deal about how lions hunt, breed and survive, but the microscopic communities living inside them have remained largely unexplored. Now, a study of wild lions in Namibia is beginning to change that, ...
Ecology
Oct 18, 2026
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128
The gut microbiome is teeming with hundreds of bacterial species and trillions of bacteria. These microorganisms influence many aspects of health, including digestion, and assist with numerous functions in the body. Gut bacteria ...
Cell & Microbiology
Oct 14, 2026
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111
As waves of humans left Africa tens of thousands of years ago, eventually populating the entire planet, they were joined on their world-conquering ride by the trillions of microorganisms that compose the gut microbiome.
Evolution
Oct 7, 2026
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