Diversity of the Human Intestinal Microbial Flora
Paul B. Eckburg, Elisabeth M. Bik, Charles Noah Bernstein, Elizabeth Purdom, Les Dethlefsen, Michael J. Sargent, Steven R. Gill, David A. Relman
Science · 2005 · 7,995 citationsOpen access
Abstract
The human endogenous intestinal microflora is an essential "organ" in providing nourishment, regulating epithelial development, and instructing innate immunity; yet, surprisingly, basic features remain poorly described. We examined 13,355 prokaryotic ribosomal RNA gene sequences from multiple colonic mucosal sites and feces of healthy subjects to improve our understanding of gut microbial diversity. A majority of the bacterial sequences corresponded to uncultivated species and novel microorganisms. We discovered significant intersubject variability and differences between stool and mucosa community composition. Characterization of this immensely diverse ecosystem is the first step in elucidating its role in health and disease.
Cite this paper
Eckburg, P. B., Bik, E. M., Bernstein, C. N., Purdom, E., Dethlefsen, L., Sargent, M. J., Gill, S. R., Nelson, K. E., & Relman, D. A. (2005). Diversity of the human intestinal microbial flora. Science, 308(5728), 1635–1638. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1110591
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