Dynamism and diversity of human gut microbial community

Abstract

Immediately after the birth, a number of bacteria start to colonize in the gut of newborn and a complex microbiota consisting of a several hundred species was eventually established through dynamic changes under lactation and

weaning. To understand a complex ecosystem of gut microbiota in human, a vast number of studies, including birth cohort studies and world cohort studies, are being performed extensively. Notably, recently developed next generation sequencer used to profile gut microbial community structure has gained deep insight in the diversity of gut microbiota in human beings. The authors are also collecting gut microbiota profiles of a large number of Japanese infants and Asians from newborns to elderly. In this review, these microbiome data are shown with discussion on the dynamism and diversity of gut microbiota in human beings.