Supervisors info:
Ιωάννα Γιαννοπούλου, ΕΔΙΠ, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Σωτήριος Μάιπας, Εντεταλμένος Διδάσκων, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Νικόλαος Καβαντζάς, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
The microbiome (a.k.a. microflora) refers to the “hidden organ” of the human body, i.e., the bacteria, the fungi, the parasites and the viruses. Microbiome colonies exist in various body areas, including the gastrointestinal tract, the skin and the lungs. Microbiome composition varies in the different organs of the human body, whilst it contributes to the regulation of the immune function. The gut microbiome is considered most valuable for the human health. Gut bacteria perform functions including the fermentation of food, protection against pathogens, immune response stimulation and production of vitamins.
This thesis refers to the destabilization of the microbiome (dysbiosis) that deregulates the body and is related to various diseases, to the gut-brain axis, the gut-lung axis and the gut-skin axis, as well as to the fact that the microbiome is already considered and used as a therapeutic target.
Specifically, since the microbiome is linked to the human immune system, it follows that any abnormality in its composition and/or diversity affects directly the host. Dysbiosis has been linked through research to a number of diseases: cardiovascular diseases, oncological diseases, metabolic diseases, nephrological diseases, gastrointestinal and liver diseases, preeclampsia in pregnancy, neurological and respiratory diseases, etc. Microbiome dysregulation can cause chronic inflammation linked to the development of various diseases.
The gut-brain axis, the gut-lung axis and the gut-skin axis are heavily influenced by external and internal factors of the host (genetic factors, diet, drug treatments, environment, etc.). The first one is bidirectional and the key to its regulation lies in the gut microbiome. The second one is also regulated by the gut microbiome and any imbalance has been linked to chronic diseases, such as the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma. The latter is equally regulated through the gut microbiome. Dysbiosis in the gut-skin axis is associated with skin pathology, such as psoriasis and acne.
Strategies for the regulation and the balance of the microbiome exist and can be used as supplementary treatment in various diseases. In particular, the use of probiotics and prebiotics, the transfer of healthy faecal microbiome, and phage therapy are among the most commonly used strategies.
Keywords:
Microbiota, Gut-brain axis, Dysbiosis, Human diseases, Prebiotics, Probiotics, Environmental factors
