Aerobes in the Gut Microbiota – Roles, Interactions, and Implications for Host Health

Abstract

The human gut contains a dynamic and rich microbial community comprising aerobic and anaerobic bacteria that

live in symbiosis with the host and contribute to host physiology and gut homeostasis. Anaerobes, which predominate in the

gut microbiota and have been well characterized, are contrasted with relatively lesser-known aerobic bacteria. Recent data

indicate that aerobes, including facultative anaerobes, perform essential functions during early colonization, nutrient

metabolism, immune modulation, and resistance against pathogens. However, the interactions between aerobes, anaerobes, and

host immune responses remain poorly understood. Factors, such as diet, antimicrobial exposure, oxygen gradients, and host

physiology, determine the composition and function of these microbes. A significant research gap exists in the form of limited

methodologies for examining aerobic bacteria in the predominantly anaerobic gut environment. The improvements in

sequencing technologies, metagenomics, transcriptomics, and in vitro gut models have helped understand microbial dynamics

in gut environment. This review evaluates current methodologies for studying gut aerobes, their limitations, and their role in

microbial ecology, health, and disease.