Life in the small intestine: the forgotten microbiome?

Abstract

The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota is now widely accepted to be an important modulator of our health and well-being. The microbes colonising the GI tract aid in promoting gut and immune homeostasis, while alterations in the composition and/or density of these microbes, often referred to as dysbiosis, have been implicated in many intestinal and extra-intestinal disorders. As a result, the GI microbiota is of increasing interest as a therapeutic target. This is particularly the case in the context of GI disorders linked to chronic inflammation of the mucosa. In this article, we focus on the small intestinal microbiota, which in many senses can be considered the ‘forgotten' gut microbiome.