Scientists Map South Asia Gut Microbiome to Study Lifestyle and Diet Shifts

Scientists design a study to understand how changing lifestyles influence the gut microbiome across different cultural, dietary, and ecological settings in South Asia. The study provides for generating a comprehensive microbiome resource representing the diversity of South Asia.

Gut Microbiome:

Dimension	Key Details
Definition	The gut microbiome comprises a community of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, residing in the gastrointestinal tract.
Core roles	It plays a crucial role in digestion, nutrient absorption, and immunomodulation, while also maintaining a symbiotic relationship with the host.
Acquisition in humans	It is initially acquired during the infant stage during vaginal delivery or breastfeeding, and later diet and other environmental exposures introduce new microbes to the human biome.
Function: digestion and nutrient extraction	The gut microbiota exists symbiotically within the human digestive system and helps support energy harvesting, digestion, and immune defense.
Function: gut barrier	They help maintain the gut barrier by keeping bacteria and bacterial toxins from escaping into the bloodstream, and they have anti-inflammatory properties to the gut.
Function: vitamin synthesis	It can synthesise several vitamins that are crucial for human health.