Symbiotic Gut Microbiota and the Modulation of Human Metabolic Phenotypes

The gut microbiota has evolved intimate symbiotic relationships with the human host and is considered as an internal “microbial organ.” It has also been shown to exhibit an immensely diverse, complex composition and significant involvement in human health and disease by use of various high-throughput “omics” techniques. However, the molecular basis of these host–microbe interactions and the role of individual bacterial species remain unclear. In this Chapter, we discuss strategies and techniques for understanding the host–microbiome symbiosis, the modulation of human metabolic phenotype especially through the gut–liver axis, and potential therapies for the gut microbiota.