A General Perspective of Microbiota in Human Health and Disease

Abstract

The study of human microbiome is widely perceived to be a young biomedical discipline. Recent studies indicate an association between human microbiome and chronic disease conditions such as diabetes and obesity. An understanding of human microbiome structure and function is important for design and delivery of microbial based therapies especially against immunological and metabolic chronic diseases. In this review, we demonstrate the role human microbiota in health and disease in various anatomic sites and in development of neonate immunity. In particular, the review focuses on the role of placental microbiota in fetoplacental unit receptivity and the effect of early microbiota exposure on neonate immunity development. Additionaly, microbiota impact on health and disease in the gut, lung and skin is explored.