{"title":"Delving the depths of ‘terra incognita’ in the human intestine — the small intestinal microbiota","authors":"Bahtiyar Yilmaz, Andrew J. Macpherson","doi":"10.1038/s41575-024-01000-4","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>The small intestinal microbiota has a crucial role in gastrointestinal health, affecting digestion, immune function, bile acid homeostasis and nutrient metabolism. The challenges of accessibility at this site mean that our knowledge of the small intestinal microbiota is less developed than of the colonic or faecal microbiota. Here, we summarize the features and fluctuations of the microbiota along the small intestinal tract, focusing on humans, and discuss physicochemical factors and assessment methods, including the technical challenges of investigating the low microbial biomass of the proximal small bowel. We highlight the essential protective mechanisms of the small intestine, including motility, the paracellular barrier and mucus, and secretory immunity, to show their roles in limiting excessive exposure of host tissues to microbial metabolites. We address current knowledge gaps, particularly the variability among individuals, the effects of dysbiosis of the small intestinal microbiota on health and how different taxa in small intestinal microbiota could compensate for each other functionally.</p>","PeriodicalId":45,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-024-01000-4","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The small intestinal microbiota has a crucial role in gastrointestinal health, affecting digestion, immune function, bile acid homeostasis and nutrient metabolism. The challenges of accessibility at this site mean that our knowledge of the small intestinal microbiota is less developed than of the colonic or faecal microbiota. Here, we summarize the features and fluctuations of the microbiota along the small intestinal tract, focusing on humans, and discuss physicochemical factors and assessment methods, including the technical challenges of investigating the low microbial biomass of the proximal small bowel. We highlight the essential protective mechanisms of the small intestine, including motility, the paracellular barrier and mucus, and secretory immunity, to show their roles in limiting excessive exposure of host tissues to microbial metabolites. We address current knowledge gaps, particularly the variability among individuals, the effects of dysbiosis of the small intestinal microbiota on health and how different taxa in small intestinal microbiota could compensate for each other functionally.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation invites new and original contributions with the understanding that, if accepted, they will not be published elsewhere. Papers reporting new theories, methodology, and/or important applications in quantum electronic structure, molecular dynamics, and statistical mechanics are appropriate for submission to this Journal. Specific topics include advances in or applications of ab initio quantum mechanics, density functional theory, design and properties of new materials, surface science, Monte Carlo simulations, solvation models, QM/MM calculations, biomolecular structure prediction, and molecular dynamics in the broadest sense including gas-phase dynamics, ab initio dynamics, biomolecular dynamics, and protein folding. The Journal does not consider papers that are straightforward applications of known methods including DFT and molecular dynamics. The Journal favors submissions that include advances in theory or methodology with applications to compelling problems.