The gastrointestinal tract is home to over 10 bacteria that
collectively form the intestinal microbiome, and their joint
genetic repertoire is larger than the human genome.These
symbiotic bacteria establish and maintain the gut immune
system, and contribute to the breakdown of complex nondigestible
plant-derived polysaccharides. The relatively
recent technological advances in genomics have revolutionized
the study of the intestinal microbiome. It is now possible to
sequence mixed microbial genetic material directly extracted
from environmental samples without prior laboratory culture of
individual species. This emerging field, known as metagenomics,
enables a survey of the different microorganisms present in a
specific environment. Several large-scale projects such as the
Human Microbiome Initiative have characterized microbial
genomes from hundreds of isolated human symbionts and have
shed light on the complex interplay between the human host
and its microbial populace, and how this changes in health and
disease.
This article aims to discuss the emerging body of knowledge
that links the gut microbiome to the development of obesity and
metabolic disease. The growing prevalence of overweight and
obesity are easily linked to the sedentary lifestyles and caloriedense
diets typical of ‘Westernized’ countries.peer-reviewe