Essays on Firmicutes

Introduction

Trillions of microbes constitute the “Metagenome” of the human gut. This is the organ called microbiome, which is highly essential, and offers the host benefits such as metabolic abilities, pathogen protection, immune system enhancement, and GI tract developmental modulations (De Fillipo, et al.). In their study, three questions regarding the evolution of the human microbiota have been raised. They are: (1) how does the partitioning of bacterial diversity between and within two populations studied? (2) Does there exist a correlation between the diet and bacterial diversity?; and (3) considering the varied geography and hygienic conditions, what is the bacterial ...

Introduction

Recently, worldwide obesity prevalence has been raised rapidly and nearly doubled between 1980 and 2014, however in 2014 more than a half a billion of adult (18 years and older) were obese (11% men and 15% women) (WHO, 2014). Obesity and overweight are defined as excess body fat accumulation that leads to health risks and comorbidities. Adult weight can be classified based on the Body Mass Index. Hence, an individual having a BMI equal to or more than 25 is regarded as being overweight, while a person with a BMI equal to or more than 30 is considered obese ( ...

Introduction

The collection of bacterial, archaeal, eukaryal and viral microbes in surface waters, oceans soils and wastes together constitute the environmental microbiome. This microbiome is vital to humans and the environment in several ways including but not restricted to nutrient recycling, biotechnological application in the food and beverage industry and genetic engineering technologies. Nonetheless, pathogenic microbes can invade and grow within other organisms causing disease (Egli and Koster). Different strategies have been used to define microbial community structure across microbial ecosystems. Taxonomic classification based on morphologic and physiological traits of cultured microbial communities is no longer attractive since the ...

Introduction

The collection of bacterial, archaeal, eukaryal and viral microbes in surface waters, oceans soils and wastes together constitute the environmental microbiome. This microbiome is vital to humans and the environment in several ways including but not restricted to nutrient recycling, biotechnological application in the food and beverage industry and genetic engineering technologies. Nonetheless, pathogenic microbes can invade and grow within other organisms causing disease (Egli and Koster). Different strategies have been used to define microbial community structure across microbial ecosystems. Taxonomic classification based on morphologic and physiological traits of cultured microbial communities is no longer attractive since the ...