Abstract
Although single pathogens are well-known for causing infections, growing evidence suggests alterations in the structure or function of the human gut microbiota may play a role in the pathogenesis or maintenance of complex chronic diseases and other conditions. Normally, the gut immune system functions to maintain homeostasis in the intestinal environment, tolerating commensal gut microbes while protecting against infection. Several pathogens, however, are well adapted for causing disease in the gut environment and may do so (in part) by disrupting the overall microbial community. Many complex diseases are associated with alterations in the gut microbiota, with insights about the gut microbes’ role in causality emerging in some conditions. The list of complex diseases linked to gut microbiota includes: asthma and allergy, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, cardiometabolic disease (including type 2 diabetes) and obesity, liver disease, type 1 diabetes, some cancers, kidney disease, celiac disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, severe malnutrition, brain-related conditions, rheumatic disease, and HIV infection.
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