Publication:

Gut microbiota: friend or foe

Comprising of trillions of various bacteria, protozoan, fungi and viruses, the gut microbiota live in human body as a super complex ecosystem mostly in gastro intestinal tract (70%). Apart from GI tract they also inhabit skin, mouth and sexual organs as an essential ecological community of commensal, symbiotic or even pathogenic relationship. These microbiota interplay with bodily immune, endocrinal, metabolic and nervous system and produces various pathological changes responsible for disease etiology. These microbiota play a major role in digestion and absorption of macro molecules, maturation of immune system, protection of gut and behavioural development of an individual. In gut disorders like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) the altered brain axis is responsible for disorders like depression, anxiety, schizoaffective disorders, autistic spectrum disorders, multiple sclerosis and parkinson’s disease.