How our microbes make us who we are

Contents Introduction, FAQs , mapping and metagenomics. What all factors affect our microbiome? The functioning of the superorganism. Regions studied : skin ,nasal, oral, gut and vaginal. HMP & Pediatrics. HMP & Obesity. Fecal transplants. Future prospective.

Q. What is human microbiota and microbiome ? “All the non-human cells viz, the microbes found in and on humans are together called the microbiome.” And, “All the genes of the microbiota and those of its host(here,human) are collectively the human microbiome.” “Thus, we humans are superorganisms.”

Q. Does your body contain more of human cells or microbial cells ?

Q. What are your microbes doing? Unknown functions (for you to discover!) Predators (kill our cells or our other microbial organisms) Prey (eaten by our other microbes) Decomposers (break down our food and waste) Producers (make vitamins or other chemicals for us and our other microbes)

Discovering the jungle of microbes Q. How do we classify these microbes and map their genes in association with ours ? “Metagenomics”.

Q.What do you do that might change your microbial community ?

Our microbiome changes As we mature and age. With puberty or pregnancy. As our diet changes. Medical conditions and treatments. Pets in the home. Many more factors are being investigated!

skin

Q. Why do mosquitoes sting me more than they sting my friend ?

Nasal Q. Do you think the hairy extensions and mucus in our nose are enough to prevent the entry of pathogens ?

Human nose holds novel antibiotic effective against multiresistant pathogens

Staphylococcus lugdunensis Staphylococcus aureus

lower oxygen content, higher hydrogen sulfide content Plant fibers Primary plant degrading bacteria Lumen microbes Secondary degrading bacteria Short chain fatty acids, methane, acetate, hydrogen sulfide Animal tissue degrading bacteria Variety of other bacteria Animal tissue Mucosal microbes Host and microbial gene expression Mucosal layer Villi capillaries higher oxygen content, lower hydrogen sulfide content

Our microbiome organisms secrete compounds that may determine our future health The relative proportion of bacterially-produced short chain fatty acids (SCFA) differed significantly between stool of healthy adults and individuals with colorectal cancer.

Q. If i am obese, then who is to be blamed? my genes? Or my gut microbial genes?

Future prospectives Immunologists Microbiologists Molecular biologists Enzymologists Taxonomists Ecologists Computer scientists Biochemists Physicians Mathematicians Statisticians Sociologists Ethicists Further research is still going on to discover more and more about the human microbiome and its role in human health.