Microbiota Influence on Intestinal Health and Adaptation

The intestinal microbiota plays a central role in shaping mucosal integrity, immune homeostasis and nutrient absorption. A balanced community of bacteria, archaea and fungi supports the production of metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, which reinforce barrier function and modulate inflammatory signalling. Disruption of this ecosystem—known as dysbiosis—can impair tight junctions and lead to increased permeability, systemic inflammation and susceptibility to infection. Following surgical resections or enteral deprivation, adaptive processes within the remnant gut are governed both by host-derived growth factors and by microbial signals that drive epithelial proliferation and angiogenesis. Nutritional inputs, whether delivered orally, via partial enteral feeding or by parenteral routes, further influence microbial composition and functional output. Emerging evidence also highlights bidirectional crosstalk between the microbiota and neuroendocrine axes, indicating that microbial metabolites can regulate appetite-related hormones and vice versa. A deeper understanding of these interactions underpins novel therapeutic approaches, from targeted prebiotics and probiotics to rationally designed microbial consortia, aimed at promoting intestinal adaptation, reducing dependence on long-term nutritional support and improving clinical outcomes across diverse gastrointestinal disorders.

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Microbiota Influence on Intestinal Health and Adaptation publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in microbiota influence on intestinal health and adaptation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Dysbiosis: A state of imbalance in the composition or function of the gut microbial community, often linked to disease.

Gut barrier function: The ability of intestinal epithelial cells, tight junctions and mucus layers to prevent translocation of pathogens and toxins.

Parenteral nutrition (PN): Administration of nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive tract.

Short bowel syndrome (SBS): A condition characterised by insufficient absorptive capacity following extensive surgical resection of the small intestine.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT): Transfer of a complex microbial community from a healthy donor to restore balance in the recipient’s gut.

Metabolome: The complete set of small-molecule metabolites produced by the microbiota and host, reflecting functional activity.

References

1. Parenteral Nutrition, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Gut Barrier: An Intricate Plot. Nutrients (2024).
2. Fecal microbiota transplantation in a rodent model of short bowel syndrome: A therapeutic approach?. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2023).
3. Altered fecal microbiome and metabolome profiles in rat models of short bowel syndrome. Frontiers in Microbiology (2023).
4. Microbiota Is Involved in Post-resection Adaptation in Humans with Short Bowel Syndrome. Frontiers in Physiology (2017).