How much do you know about the gut microbiota?
Here you can find the correct answers to the Disbiotik learning survey. Thank you very much for taking part in our study.
What is the gut microbiota?
✅ Microorganisms that naturally live in our gut.
Why? The gut microbiota is made up of a large community of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa and viruses. Many of them perform important functions for our health, such as helping to digest certain components of our food or interacting with our immune system.
Therefore, the microbiota is not made up of substances produced by the gut, but of the microorganisms themselves that live there. Nor is it made up only of bacteria that appear when we have an infection: many bacteria normally live in our gut without causing disease and are part of a healthy microbiota.
How can antibiotics affect the gut microbiota?
✅ They can kill both beneficial and harmful bacteria.
Why? Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria. However, their effects are not limited exclusively to the bacteria responsible for the infection: they can also affect beneficial bacteria that are part of our gut microbiota. As a result, antibiotic treatment can temporarily alter the composition and diversity of the microbiota.
Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. For this reason, they should only be used when necessary and according to the advice of healthcare professionals.
What can help improve the health of the gut microbiota?
✅ A varied diet and exercise.
Why? A varied and balanced diet, particularly one rich in plant-based foods and fibre, supports the growth of different gut microorganisms and can help maintain a diverse and healthy microbiota. Regular physical activity has also been associated with beneficial changes in the composition and diversity of the microbiota.
There is no need to avoid fermented foods; in fact, many contain beneficial live microorganisms. On the other hand, although certain probiotics can be useful in specific situations, regularly taking probiotics does not, by itself, guarantee a healthier microbiota. Antibiotics should not be used for this purpose either, as they can alter the gut microbiota and should only be taken when medically indicated.
Which characteristic does a healthy gut microbiota usually have?
✅ A high diversity of different microorganisms.
Why? A healthy gut microbiota is usually characterised by a high diversity of microorganisms. This variety allows different species to perform different functions and helps maintain a microbial community that is more stable and resilient to potential disturbances.
A healthy microbiota is not necessarily dominated by a single beneficial species, but is instead made up of numerous species that interact with one another and with our bodies. Nor does it imply the complete absence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms: these can be present in small numbers without causing disease, while the balance of the microbial community helps limit their proliferation.
Which of these microorganisms can cause a gut infection?
✅ Shigella.
Why? Shigella is a genus of pathogenic bacteria that can cause intestinal infections, resulting in a disease known as shigellosis. Its most common symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever.
In contrast, Bifidobacterium includes species that are commonly found in the gut microbiota, while Streptococcus thermophilus is a bacterium used in the fermentation of foods such as yoghurt.
Prebiotic foods, such as onions and citrus fruits:
✅ Contain fibre that feeds the gut microbiota.
Why? Prebiotics are components of certain foods, mainly certain types of fibre, that our bodies cannot fully digest. When they reach the gut, they can be used by some microorganisms in our microbiota, promoting the growth and activity of beneficial microorganisms.
Prebiotic foods do not contain live microorganisms; these can be found in probiotic foods, such as yoghurt or kombucha. Nor do they contain natural antibiotics. Their effect is mainly based on providing nutrients that can be used by certain microorganisms in our microbiota.
The type of birth (vaginal or caesarean):
✅ Can influence the gut microbiota during the early stages of life.
Why? The type of birth can influence the first microorganisms that colonise our bodies. During a vaginal birth, the baby comes into contact mainly with microorganisms from the mother's vaginal microbiota, whereas during a caesarean birth, the initial exposure is different, with a greater representation of microorganisms associated with the mother's skin. This can lead to differences in the composition of the gut microbiota during the early stages of life.
However, the type of birth does not determine our microbiota for the rest of our lives. Over time, many other factors, such as diet, the environment, antibiotic use, age and lifestyle, contribute to modifying it. Therefore, although the type of birth can initially influence the microbiota, it continues to change throughout our lives.
For which microorganism is faecal microbiota transplantation currently approved for treating antibiotic-resistant infections?
✅ Clostridioides difficile.
Why? Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) involves transferring microorganisms from the gut microbiota of a healthy donor into the gut of a patient with the aim of restoring an altered microbiota. Currently, its use is primarily established for treating recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections, particularly when they return after antibiotic treatment.
FMT cannot be used for just any difficult-to-treat gut bacterium. Although its potential use in other diseases is being investigated, its clinical application remains much more limited. It is also not an established treatment for Helicobacter pylori infections.
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