Prakash Satya, Rodes Laetitia, Coussa-Charley Michael, Tomaro-Duchesneau Catherine
Biomedical Technology and Cell Therapy Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Artificial Cells and Organs Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Biologics. 2011;5:71-86. doi: 10.2147/BTT.S19099. Epub 2011 Jul 11.
The gut microbiota is a remarkable asset for human health. As a key element in the development and prevention of specific diseases, its study has yielded a new field of promising biotherapeutics. This review provides comprehensive and updated knowledge of the human gut microbiota, its implications in health and disease, and the potentials and limitations of its modification by currently available biotherapeutics to treat, prevent and/or restore human health, and future directions. Homeostasis of the gut microbiota maintains various functions which are vital to the maintenance of human health. Disruption of the intestinal ecosystem equilibrium (gut dysbiosis) is associated with a plethora of human diseases, including autoimmune and allergic diseases, colorectal cancer, metabolic diseases, and bacterial infections. Relevant underlying mechanisms by which specific intestinal bacteria populations might trigger the development of disease in susceptible hosts are being explored across the globe. Beneficial modulation of the gut microbiota using biotherapeutics, such as prebiotics, probiotics, and antibiotics, may favor health-promoting populations of bacteria and can be exploited in development of biotherapeutics. Other technologies, such as development of human gut models, bacterial screening, and delivery formulations eg, microencapsulated probiotics, may contribute significantly in the near future. Therefore, the human gut microbiota is a legitimate therapeutic target to treat and/or prevent various diseases. Development of a clear understanding of the technologies needed to exploit the gut microbiota is urgently required.
肠道微生物群是人类健康的一项非凡资产。作为特定疾病发生发展及预防的关键因素，对其研究催生了一个充满前景的生物治疗新领域。本综述提供了关于人类肠道微生物群的全面且最新的知识，包括其在健康与疾病中的意义、当前可用生物治疗手段对其进行调节以治疗、预防和/或恢复人类健康的潜力与局限性，以及未来的发展方向。肠道微生物群的稳态维持着对人类健康至关重要的各种功能。肠道生态系统平衡的破坏（肠道菌群失调）与众多人类疾病相关，包括自身免疫性疾病、过敏性疾病、结直肠癌、代谢性疾病和细菌感染。全球范围内正在探索特定肠道细菌群体可能在易感宿主中引发疾病的相关潜在机制。使用益生元、益生菌和抗生素等生物治疗手段对肠道微生物群进行有益调节，可能有利于促进健康的细菌群体生长，并可用于生物治疗的开发。其他技术，如人类肠道模型的开发、细菌筛选以及递送制剂（如微囊化益生菌），在不久的将来可能会做出重大贡献。因此，人类肠道微生物群是治疗和/或预防各种疾病的合理治疗靶点。迫切需要对利用肠道微生物群所需的技术有清晰的认识。
