understanding the extent and sources of variation in gut microbiota studies; a prerequisite for establishing associations with disease理解的程度和来源的肠道细菌的差异研究;.pdfVIP

Diversity 2010, 2, 1085-1096; doi:10.3390/d2091085 OPEN ACCESS diversity ISSN 1424-2818 /journal/diversity Review Understanding the Extent and Sources of Variation in Gut Microbiota Studies; a Prerequisite for Establishing Associations with Disease 1, 1 2 Volker Mai *, Maria Ukhanova and David J. Baer 1 Microbiology and Cell Science, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; E-Mail: mukhanova@ 2 US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; E-Mail: David.Baer@ * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: vmai@; Tel.: +1-352-273-9398; Fax: +1-352-392-5922. Received: 16 April 2010; in revised form: 10 August 2010 / Accepted: 12 August 2010 / Published: 27 August 2010 Abstract: Humans harbor distinct commensal microbiota at various anatomic sites. There has been renewed interest in the contributions of microbiota activities to human health and disease. The microbiota of the gut is the most complex of all anatomic sites in terms of total numbers of bacteria that interact closely with the mucosal immune system and contribute various functions to host physiology. Especially in the proximal large intestine a diverse microbiota ferments complex substrates such as dietary fiber and host mucins, but also metabolizes bile acids and phytoestrogens that reach the large intestine. It is now well establi