MICRIBIOME IN HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY

Abstract

Basic facts concerning human microbiome. Long-term coevolution of the human organism and microbe community has led to the formation of an additional anatomical structure in the human body that was named microbiome. This unique microbe structure has a complex organ organization that functions in mutual consent with all other human organs and systems.

Localization of microbiome in the human body. All biotopes of the human body (oral cavity, hair, nose, ears, urogenital system, skin, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, and bronchopulmonary system) have their own unique and specific microbe complex that consists of specialized microbes with various functions. Besides, all these local microbiomes are in continuous interactions with each other and with macroorganism making the united superorganism system.

Microbiome functional activity. Microbiome takes active part in realization of a wide spectrum of vitally important physiological processes, including energetic homeostasis and metabolism, synthesis of vitamins and other significant nutrients, endocrine signaling, preventing pathogen colonization, regulation of immune function, metabolism of xenobiotics, toxins, carcinogens and other harmful substances. Most these functions are closely connected and tightly implicated with human physiology.

Changes of microbiome during ontogenesis. Microbiome formation begins long before childbirth and continues 2–3 years after it. In the course of the organism maturation and aging, microbiome changes appreciably. Microbiome improvement at all stages of human life is of the utmost importance for improving health of all age group population.

Microbiome damages in etiology of human diseases. Numerous investigations showed that microbiome changes are associated with a large spectrum of gastrointestinal and systemic diseases, including inflammatory intestinal diseases, asthma, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular pathology, autoimmune, neurobehavioral and many other diseases.

Modern approaches to microbiome improvement. To date, many different methods of therapeutic influence on microbiome have been proposed: changing diet, applying probiotics, prebiotics or their complexes (synbiotics), using functional foodstuffs, carrying out fecal transplantation etc. The authors propose universal approaches to prophylaxes of microbiome disturbances and its reversal in people of different age categories; its efficiency has been convincingly demonstrated in clinics.