How to unravel functions of the mammalian gastro intestinal microbiome.

Abstract

The human intestines contain a complex network of trillions of bacteria, these bacteria together are called the microbiota and the main part of them is resident in the colon or large intestine. The relationship between the microbiota and its host is not only commensal but also seems to be a symbiotic relationship. So the microbiota acts in a bigger picture which is called the microbiome. In this thesis a number of functions in which the microbiome could play a function will be highlighted. Also, the methods researchers have used will be explained to give the reader more insight in how the microbiome could function. In the first part of my thesis experiments will be listed to elucidate the role of the microbiome in nutrient uptake.Because the microbiome plays an important role in nutrient uptake it is also proposed that perturbations in the gut microbiota lead to pathologies. Other pathologies in which the microbiome plays a role and how this role is elucidated are discussed in the second part of this thesis. In the final part the role of the microbiome in behavior is discussed.