[Series] Spatially resolved architecture of the human gut microbiome and its health implications

Abstract

The human gut microbiome shows dynamic variation throughout the lifespan and remarkable spatial organisation within the gastrointestinal tract. Complementing the focus of the first paper of this Series on the human microbiome dynamics and health, which focused on the temporal dynamics of the human gut microbiome, this second Series paper explores its biogeographical signatures, which often reflect distinct physiological niches in gastrointestinal tract regions. The spatial architecture of the gut microbiome is shaped by various factors and has important clinical implications for host homoeostasis, health, and disease.