WHATS THE MICROBIOTA?
The term 'microbiota' refers to a community of microorganisms that live in a certain environment, such as the human body, and they can include bacterias, viruses and fungi. The microbiota can play an important role in human health by contributing to digestion, immune health and the production of vitamins as well as other essential compounds.
By now you've probably heard the word “microbiota” mentioned dozens of times. A lot of people think it's a trend and, like all trends, it will pass, but this is certainly not the case. The word is here to stay, because an ever-growing number of studies are finding links between the microbiota in our bodies and our optimum state of health.
TYPES OF MICROBIOTA
We're going to tell you which types of microbiota exist, what role they play, why you should pay attention to them and what happens if we don't look after them correctly.
To kick things off, it's always good to understand the origin of the word in question. In this case, the term comes from the Greek word mikrós (meaning small) y bios (meaning life).
Taking into account the fact that, in biology, a biota is a group of fauna and flora from a particular region, we can define “microbiota”, as the group of microorganisms (fungi, yeasts, bacteria or viruses) that live in a certain environment. We can find bacteria on all bodily surfaces that come into contact with the outside world, like the skin, the respiratory tract, the digestive tract and the urogenital system.
Now we're going to talk about some of the most important characteristics of these communities, starting from the top of your body:
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MICROBIOTA
The ENT (ear, nose, throat) microbiota are formed of three different bacterial flora: the oral microbiota, the ear microbiota and the nasopharyngeal microbiota.
- The oral microbiota comprise more than 700 species of bacterias, which help keep the mouth in a good state of health.
- The ear microbiota are found in the external ear canal and their composition resembles that of the skin.
- The nasopharyngeal microbiota coat the pathways of our nose and pharynx (or throat). While this community is very close to the oral microbiota, it is made up of very different bacteria.
When these communities are out of balance, the effects may be noted in diseases of the teeth (tooth decay), gums, tongue, ears (infection) and the nasal pathways.
The pulmonary or respiratory microbiota are a community that is found in the lower respiratory tract, particularly in the mucous layer and the epithelial surfaces (the tissue that forms the covering of all bodily surfaces).
The respiratory microbiota modulate inflammation through the immune system and thereby impact the health of the body. Those of the lower airway are different from those of the upper airway, and changes in their composition have been linked with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. In fact, these microbiota play an essential role in stopping asthma from developing, or worsening.
This is one of the best-known, and most complete, communities of microbiota. To give you an idea, a single human adult can harbour between 500 and 1,000 species of microorganisms in their gasrointestinal tract. This is the community that we treat with our MIM breads, specifically our postbiotic MIM Complex.
The principal functions of the intestinal, or gut, microbiota are to prevent colonisation by other, pathogenic microorganisms; aid the digestion of foods; produce vitamins B and K (which the human body is incapable of synthesising on its own) and stimulate the immune system.
The immune system and the microbiota in our gut maintain a constant dialogue. However, if this relationship falls out of balance, it can start a pathological (disease) process; in fact, it appears to be a key factor in certain autoimmune diseases, because the antigens of the intestinal microbiota represent a sufficiently significant stimulus to trigger an inflammatory response.
There is also an axis between the gut and the brain, which connects the central nervous system with the intestinal microbiota through the vagus nerve, the parasympathetic nervous system, bacterial metabolies which play a role as neurotransmitters and the endocrine system, which is associated with the digestive tract.
The composition of the vaginal microbiota depends on a range of factors, including a woman's genes; her ethnic origin; whether she has been pregnant or gone through the menopause; her surrounding environment; her hygiene habits and her sexual activity. The primary role of this community is to defend the body from vaginal infections and maintain an environment favourable for pregnancy.
Health problems that can indicate an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota include local infections, mycosis and symptoms related to itching, irritation, discharge and abnormal smells.
You've probably not heard much about the urinary microbiota. It's a less rich and varied environment than the others we've covered, and requires significantly more investigation. Nonetheless, the urinary aparatus houses its own unique community and a lack of diversity can increase the risk of contracting urinary infections, developing urinary incontinence or interstitial cystisis, and developing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Al along the cutaneous surface (the surface of the skin) live a community of bacteria, fungi and parasites. In normal conditions, this community constitutes a complex ecosystem in permanent interaction with the host.
This ecosystem actively participates in the double protective function of the skin, as both a physical and immunological barrier. So, when the balance of this ecosystem is disrupted, the consequences can leave us vulnerable to diseases, and even cause them.
LOOKING AFTER THE MICROBIOTA
Ok, so now you know all about your microbiota. We hope that, after reading this, you have no more problems with bacteria and 'the bugs' that live in and around your body; remember, they're our travel companions and we must look after them as much as possible. Our general health depends on it!