This reference supplies a comprehensive and current overview of every aspect of gastrointestinal microbiota. Expertly written chapters cover conventional and molecular techniques for the study of differing microbial populations, as well as the analysis of microbial activity and interaction with host bodies.

Illustrative and up-to-date, this source showcases how fluctuations in our diet, environment, and pharmaceutical intake affect microbial composition and behavior.

• Filling a gap in the literature, this sourceconsiders the key role of microbiota in the health maintenance of the host, from infants to elderly, especially aspects of immunology and nutrition
• Analyzes non-invasive sampling methods routinely used in medical practice
• Provides an overview of valuable models to investigate the influence of various substances on human microbiota
• Reviews the relationship between intestinal microbiota and diseases including inflammatory bowel disease and cancer
• Tracks the development of genomic and molecular technologies to detect microbes and determine their impact on the host, as well as the molecular functioning of host-microbiota interactions