Lecture 16 AI generated

Question 1

Describe what the microbiome consists of in/on a host.

Answer 1

The microbiome includes bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, and viruses present in or on a host.

Question 2

How can the microbiome be analyzed?

Answer 2

The microbiome can be analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, metagenomics, or metatranscriptomics.

Question 3

Define metabolomics in the context of microbiome analysis.

Answer 3

Metabolomics is the analytical method used to profile all metabolites present in a sample.

Question 4

How can you measure the composition of the microbiome?

Answer 4

The composition of the microbiome can be measured using 16S rRNA gene profiling or metagenomics (shotgun sequencing).

Question 5

What is the difference between 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomics in analyzing the microbiome?

Answer 5

16S rRNA sequencing is cheaper but less detailed, while metagenomics provides higher resolution.

Question 6

Describe the process of measuring the activity of the microbiome.

Answer 6

The activity of the microbiome can be measured using metatranscriptomics, where RNA is isolated to study the proteins and active pathways of microorganisms.

Question 7

What is the approximate ratio between bacteria and other microbes in the human body?

Answer 7

The ratio between bacteria and other microbes in the human body is about 1:1.

Question 8

How many bacterial species and bacterial genes does an average person have in their body?

Answer 8

An average person has around 1000 bacterial species and 2,000,000 bacterial genes in their body.

Question 9

Describe the relationship between a disturbed microbiome and diseases according to the content.

Answer 9

A disturbed microbiome is associated with various diseases, including IBD, ulcerative colitis, eczema, CVD, alcoholic steatosis, asthma, and impacts brain function.

Question 10

What is the potential benefit of microbiome transplantation mentioned in the content?

Answer 10

Transplanting a healthy microbiome into a patient can be beneficial by replacing harmful pathogens and metabolites with those from a healthy microbiome.

Question 11

How is faecal transplantation compared to antibiotics in the content?

Answer 11

Faecal transplantation is mentioned to be more effective than antibiotics in treating certain conditions by replacing the unhealthy microbiome with a healthy one.

Question 12

Define FMT as discussed in the content.

Answer 12

FMT stands for faecal microbiota transplantation, a procedure where a healthy microbiome is transplanted into a patient to restore microbial balance.

Question 13

What impact does the gut microbiota have on glucose and lipid metabolism in mice according to the content?

Answer 13

The gut microbiota affects glucose and lipid metabolism in mice, as seen in studies where transplantation of an obese microbiome increased body fat in germ-free mice.

Question 14

How does stool consistency relate to variation in the gut microbiome according to the content?

Answer 14

Stool consistency was identified as the most important factor contributing to variation in the gut microbiome, among 503 clinical and questionnaire-based covariates.

Question 15

Can faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) be beneficial for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) according to the content?

Answer 15

FMT could be beneficial for IBD, particularly in patients with Crohn’s disease and the pediatric population, as suggested by analyses in the content.

Question 16

Describe the impact of stool consistency on the microbiota according to the content.

Answer 16

Stool consistency showed the largest effect size on the microbiota.

Question 17

What is the role of medication in relation to the microbiota as per the content?

Answer 17

Medication explained the largest total variance and interacted with other covariate-microbiota associations.

Question 18

How do early-life events like birth mode influence adult microbiota composition based on the content?

Answer 18

Early-life events such as birth mode were not reflected in adult microbiota composition.

Question 19

Define the relationship between major nutrient categories and bacterial taxa as discussed in the content.

Answer 19

Major nutrient categories like fat, fibre, vegetables, protein, and carbs cluster independently with relative proportions of bacterial taxa.

Question 20

How long does it typically take for diet to impact the gut microbiome according to the content?

Answer 20

It only takes 0.5-1 years for changes in the microbiome due to altered diet.

Question 21

Describe the role of the microbiota in educating the immune system according to the content.

Answer 21

The microbiota educates the immune system to recognize self from oneself.

Question 22

Describe the relationship between dietary fiber, protein, and gut microbes in the GI tract.

Answer 22

Dietary fiber is initially used by gut microbes in the beginning of the GI tract, while dietary protein is utilized further down. The microbial density is higher in the distal part of the colon.

Question 23

Define the role of TMAO in atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Answer 23

TMAO, produced by gut microbes from nutrients like choline and carnitine, is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and accelerates atherosclerosis.

Question 24

How does the choline mimetic DMB impact TMA production in the gut microbiota?

Answer 24

DMB inhibits TMA lyases in the gut microbiota, reducing TMA levels after high intake of choline or carnitine.

Question 25

Do probiotics play a role in SCFA production? If so, how?

Answer 25

Yes, probiotics can utilize prebiotics to produce SCFAs, with butyrate being particularly beneficial for health.

Question 26

Describe the functions of propionate, butyrate, and acetate in the body.

Answer 26

Propionate regulates hepatic cholesterol synthesis, butyrate induces mucosal apoptosis differentiation and DC maturation, and acetate increases PYY, GLP-1, and satiety.