Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Nutr Rev. 2009 Nov;67 Suppl 2:S164-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00237.x.
The human body is an ecosystem harboring complex site-specific microbial communities. The majority of these human-associated microbes are found in the intestinal tract, where they play important roles in energy uptake, vitamin synthesis, and epithelial and immunity development. Recent molecular studies have characterized the human-associated microbiotas in more detail than conventional culture-dependent techniques, showing a large degree of microbial diversity and differences between anatomical sites and individuals. Investigating the composition and function of microbial symbionts will facilitate better understanding of their roles in human health and disease.
人体是一个容纳复杂特定部位微生物群落的生态系统。这些与人体相关的微生物大多数存在于肠道中，它们在能量摄取、维生素合成以及上皮组织和免疫发育中发挥着重要作用。最近的分子研究比传统的基于培养的技术更详细地描述了与人体相关的微生物群，显示了微生物多样性以及解剖部位和个体之间的巨大差异。研究微生物共生体的组成和功能将有助于更好地理解它们在人类健康和疾病中的作用。
