The gut microbiome: a symbiotic relationship with humans

Jane Flint Bridgewater

Bustling metropolis of symbiont life:
benign bacteria, fermenting fungi,
parasites and viruses at peace
in homeostasis of robust health.

Millions of genes prime this teeming organ
growing our unique villous fingerprint,
with moisture, warmth, acid and nutrients,
digesting, defending and creating energy.

Mysterious species diversity,
temporal and spatial variability
communicate with all other organs.
Dysbiosis - change measures disease.

Facultative anaerobes in inflammation,
molecular disruption in transcription,
metabolite pools and serum antibodies,
vivid variance vibrantly increased.

Food may be our medicine. Hippocrates
knew infection and poor diet harmful,
a new frontier today of balance with
our environment and immunity.

The Science

Every human being carries their own, largely individual, suite of microbial strains, which are acquired early in life, differ between environments and populations, and can persist for years or undergo relatively rapid transitions. Microbial diversity manifests differently in different ecological niches of the body. Greater diversity is expected in the gut, but can be associated with dysbiotic states and risk of adverse events in the female reproductive tract. The gut microbiome can be perturbed by conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes, but many microbiome linked health states are being addressed in progressive phases of the NIH Human Microbiome Project, providing insights on microbial dynamics, human host responses, and microbial inter-relationships.

The Poet

Jane Flint Bridgewater writes poetry in her retirement from cardiology practice in the West Midlands, UK. A lifelong reciter with Poetry Society medals in her youth, she has shown a Humanities interest in her holistic approach to medical practice, championing patient empowerment, prevention & rehabilitation, and women’s heart health. Her poetry has focused on life experiences, family, and nature, reflecting her lifelong interest in both science and the arts. She has previously published in Consilience.

Next poem: The Medium is the Message by Irina Moga