Hans Popper Basic Science SOA: Gut Microbiota and Liver

The intestinal microbiota and the human body have a symbiotic relationship, and a dysbalance of this delicate homeostasis can lead to disease. Liver diseases are associated with changes in the gut microbiota. Intestinal dysbiosis is characterized by bacterial overgrowth and changes in the microbiota composition. In addition, most chronic liver diseases are associated with intestinal barrier dysfunction. The contribution of intestinal dysbiosis to chronic liver disease goes beyond disruption of the intestinal barrier. Microbial metabolites are equally important for the progression of liver disease. Better understanding of host-microbial interactions will allow discovery of novel therapeutic targets in the gut microbiota, enabling new treatment options that restore the intestinal ecosystem precisely and influence liver disease. This session will review beneficial aspects of the microbiome for human health. Attendees will learn how to characterize changes of the gut microbiota associated with liver disease and their contributions to disease progression. Additionally, the session will cover modulation options of the gut microbiota to improve liver disease treatment.