Khan AS, Kamthan M, Ali A. Understanding the intricate interactions between microbiota and host. World J Exp Med 2025; 15(3): 101277 [DOI: 10.5493/wjem.v15.i3.101277]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Asghar Ali, PhD, Department of Biochemistry, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 110062, Delhi, India. asgharali@jamiahamdard.ac.in
Research Domain of This Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Article-Type of This Article
Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Exp Med. Sep 20, 2025; 15(3): 101277 Published online Sep 20, 2025. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v15.i3.101277
Understanding the intricate interactions between microbiota and host
Aiysha Siddiq Khan, Mohan Kamthan, Asghar Ali
Aiysha Siddiq Khan, Mohan Kamthan, Asghar Ali, Department of Biochemistry, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, Delhi, India
Co-corresponding authors: Mohan Kamthan and Asghar Ali.
Author contributions: Kamthan M and Ali A were both involved in the design and conceptualizing of the study, and they contributed equally to this manuscript as co-corresponding authors; Khan AS and Ali A drafted and wrote the manuscript; Khan AS, Kamthan M, and Ali A were responsible for the critical revision of the manuscript for relevant intellectual content; All authors approved the final version of the manuscript prior to submission.
Supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research Government of India, No. 2021-10264/GTGE-BMS for the Senior Research Fellowship award to Kamthan M; and the Department of Health Research, Government of India, No. R.12014/61/2022-HR for the Young Scientist award to Ali A.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Asghar Ali, PhD, Department of Biochemistry, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 110062, Delhi, India. asgharali@jamiahamdard.ac.in
Received: September 11, 2024 Revised: February 26, 2025 Accepted: April 14, 2025 Published online: September 20, 2025 Processing time: 336 Days and 17.2 Hours
Abstract
The review examines the intricate relationship between the microbiota and its host, highlighting how these microbial communities influence various physiological functions beyond simple coexistence. The microbiota plays a crucial role in regulating the immune system, metabolism, and overall health. We explore the diverse microbial populations inhabiting different body regions and their essential contributions to maintaining balance within the host. Recent research has uncovered molecular mechanisms that govern microbiota-host interactions, offering new insights into how these microbes support health and, conversely, how imbalances known as dysbiosis can increase susceptibility to diseases. While much attention has been given to the gut microbiota, this review also explores the influence of microbes in other parts of the body, including their effects on various organs and tissues. Additionally, we discuss emerging evidence on the gut-brain axis, illustrating how the microbiota can impact brain function and behavior. Understanding this connection could open new possibilities for treating neurological and psychological disorders. Finally, we evaluate microbiota-based therapies such as probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation, emphasizing the importance of personalized approaches. By integrating findings from multiple disciplines, this review provides a comprehensive perspective on the microbiota’s vital role in human health and its potential as a therapeutic target.
Core Tip: This review article explores the crucial role of gut microbiota and their metabolites in immune regulation, gene expression, and disease progression. It introduces the gut-organ axis hypothesis, linking systemic genetic factors with inflammatory bowel disease progression and treatment response. The study emphasizes microbiota-targeted therapies, such as probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and dietary interventions, as promising strategies in precision medicine. Future research should focus on personalized microbiome-based treatments, leveraging machine learning and advanced analytics to optimize therapies. These insights pave the way for microbiome-driven interventions, revolutionizing treatments for inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune diseases, and cancer.
