In health, a diverse microbiome might enhance host defense, while during critical illness, the dysbiotic microbiome might contribute to comorbidity and organ dysfunction. Future research should be aimed at further establishing the causes and consequences of dysbiosis seen in the critically ill, which will provide perspective for developing new strategies of intervention.
Read more...

The changes in the composition of the gut microbiota were predominantly driven by high-fat feeding rather than reflecting the obese state of the mice. Differences in the abundance of butyrate and propionate producing bacteria in the gut may at least in part contribute to the observed differences in obesity propensity in Sv129 and BL6 mice.
Read more...

Since the early days of the intestinal microbiota research, mouse models have been used frequently to study the interaction of microbes with their host. However, to translate the knowledge gained from mouse studies to a human situation, the major spatio-temporal similarities anddifferences between intestinal microbiota in mice and humans need to be considered.
Read more...