The gut is the largest organ in humans. It is also a highly dynamic organ where intestinal cells renew themselves every three days and where all nutrients are absorbed and wastes are excreted. Since birth, our gut has been colonised by a complex microbial ecosystem, which is increasingly associated with disease and health. More than a thousand different species of microorganisms are found in our gut. The composition of this ecosystem is unique to each person. Despite the wide variety of bacteria, the gut flora of healthy individuals is in balance. Due to various causes, this delicate balance can become disturbed. Not only the use of antibiotics, but also diet and age play an important role. The composition of the intestinal flora ̶ nowadays often referred to as intestinal microbiota or intestinal microbiome ̶ can also have a predictive value for the development of syndromes such as diabetes, rheumatic diseases, chronic intestinal inflammation and behavioural abnormalities.
Connecting character
Understanding the interactions between microorganisms themselves and between microorganisms and their hosts is the basis for being able to establish links between health, or its derailment, on the one hand, and the composition of the microbiome on the other. Among other things, new analytical methods are needed to learn more about the gut microbiome. Scientific research is also needed into the possibility and consequences of intestinal flora transplants as a treatment method for intestinal and other diseases. An important question is which bacteria occur in a healthy ecosystem, what their function is, and how this knowledge can be used in new therapies. Targeted preventive and curative interventions based on this knowledge can keep the gut healthy. Scientific research is also needed into the possibility and consequences of gut flora transplants and phage therapies that use selective bacteria-killing viruses as a treatment method for (gut) diseases. This largely misunderstood area of research is of interest to both the food industry and pharmaceutical companies and therefore represents an interesting link between these two mainly separate sectors. Great challenges lie ahead for scientists to work together with medics and product developers on this complex but promising topic.
