MCB 2000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Human Microbiome Project, Botulinum Toxin, Amoebiasis
Document Summary
Three types of microorganisms are associated with human body: normal microbiota - microorganisms colonizing the human body without harming it, transient microbes - rapidly lost, pathogenic microbes - invade and damage the cells and tissue. Acquiring resident biota: the uterus is germ-free, first exposure to microbes occurs during the passage through the birth canal, feeding, contact with the environment and family members. Human microbiome project: 200 scientist taking part, to characterise microbial communities, to elucidate the relationship between disease and changes in human microbiology. Human microbiom project asm meeting 2012: microbial samples were taken from 242 healthy volunteers, 10,000 microbial species were found, 360 times more bacterial than human genes. Establishing the infection: the microbes enter the body through - portal of entry, attaching to the host, surviving host defenses, causes disease. Portals of entry: mucous membrane (lines the body cavities that are open to the environment, skin (openings or cuts)
