Bacterial community assembly and turnover within the intestines of developing zebrafish.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The majority of animal associated microorganisms are present in digestive tract communities. These intestinal communities arise from selective pressures of the gut habitats as well as host's genotype are regarded as an extra 'organ' regulate functions that have not evolved wholly on the host. They are functionally essential in providing nourishment, regulating epithelial development, and influencing immunity in the vertebrate host. As vertebrates are born free of microorganisms, what is poorly understood is how intestinal bacterial communities assemble and develop in conjunction with the development of the host.

Methodology/principal findings

Set within an ecological framework, we investigated the bacterial community assembly and turnover within the intestinal hab

SUBMITTER: Yan Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3261916 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature