Question

Disruption or elimination of normal microbiota may lead to disease. Explain with examples.

Thank you for your help!

Answer 1

Ans:

Disruption or elimination of normal microbiota may lead to disease:

- The composition of the microbiota is influenced by personal hygiene, diet, water source, medicines ( especially antibiotics) and exposure to environmental toxins.

- Disruption of the normal microbiota (commonly referred to as dysbiosis ) can lead to disese by the elimination of needed organisms or allowing the growth of inappropriate bacteria.

- For example, following exposure to antibiotics and suppression of the intestinal normal flora, C. difficile is able to proliferate and express enterotoxins, leading to the inflammation of the colon (antibiotic associated colitis).

- Another disease of the colon, ulcerative colitis, is associated with an increased level of bacteria producing mucin-degrading sufatases, leading to leading to degradation of protecive mucosal lining of the intestinal wall and stimulation of inflammatory immune response.