The esophageal microbiota in health and disease. Issue 1 (14th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Di Pilato, Vincenzo; Freschi, Giancarlo; Ringressi, Maria Novella; Pallecchi, Lucia; Rossolini, Gian Maria; Bechi, Paolo
• Other Names: Giuli Robert guestEditor.; Gregersen Hans guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Volume 1381:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 33
• Publication Date: 2016-07-14
• Subjects: esophageal diseases -- microbiota -- esophagitis -- Barrett's esophagus -- esophageal adenocarcinoma -- esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13127
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0077-8923

Abstract

Abstract : The esophageal mucosa is among the sites colonized by human microbiota, the complex microbial ecosystem that colonizes various body surfaces and is increasingly recognized to play roles in several physiological and pathological processes. Our understanding of the composition of the esophageal microbiota in health and disease is challenged by the need for invasive sampling procedures and by the dynamic nature of the esophageal environment and remains limited in comparison with the information available for other body sites. Members of the genus Streptococcus appear to be the major components of the microbiota of the healthy esophagus, although the presence of several other taxa has also been reported. Dysbiosis, consisting of enrichment in some Gram‐negative taxa (including Veillonella, Prevotella, Haemophilus, Neisseria, Campylobacter, and Fusobacterium ), has been reported in association with gastroesophageal reflux disease and is hypothesized to contribute to the evolution of this condition toward Barrett's esophagus (which is the most common esophageal precancerous lesion) and, eventually, adenocarcinoma. Some Campylobacter species (mostly C. concisus ) are also putatively involved in the progression of disease toward adenocarcinoma. However, variable findings have recently been reported in additional studies. Causative relationships between dysbiosis or specific bacterial species and esophageal diseases remain controversial and warrant further investigations.