Effect of intestinal microbiome in norm and pathology on human health

Abstract

The intestinal microbiome plays a significant role in the regulation of peristalsis, exerts some influence on the functioning of the immune system, course of metabolic processes and formation of some aspects of behavior. There is evidence that maternal microflora can exert an influence on the fetus by translocation of bacteria or bacterial particles through the placental barrier, although, of course, the main colonization of the intestine of the infant occurs in the process of natural childbirth under the influence of the vaginal and intestinal flora of the mother. In children born by cesarean section the normal colonization of the gut is disturbed, which can determine a higher risk of developing in the future of some immune-mediated diseases, Type 1 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Medical men often try to adjust dysbiosis or changes in the composition of the fecal microflora called dysbiosis by the use of probiotics. In addition to the well-known effects of probiotics in the treatment of acute diarrhea in children, these drugs currently are being increasingly used for prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis of the newborn, despite the fact that evidence of the effectiveness of their routine use is not sufficient. A number of studies have shown that some probiotics may be effective in the prevention of atopic diseases, prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, reducing the frequency and severity of necrotizing enterocolitis, relief of infant colic, and therapy of constipation. Given the role of microbiota in the development of obesity, some probiotics have been used and showed their effectiveness in weight loss. The fecal microflora transplantation was introduced relatively recently to treat Clostridium difficile infection and inflammatory bowel disease. In this review we discuss current data on the intestinal microbiota, its formation, functions, disturbance of the composition and possible ways of their correction.

Keywords

• gut microbiota
• intestinal colonization
• probiotics
• fecal microbiota transplantation