Select the false statement about normal microbiota.
a. ...

Question

Select the false statement about normal microbiota.

a. They compete with pathogens.

b. They do not include potential pathogens.

c. They make vitamins for the host.

d. They train the immune system.

e. A disruption in their balance can lead to disease.

Accepted Answer

Hi, everybody. And welcome back. Our next question says, which of the following is not true. Regarding the normal microbiome of humans. A, they are involved in the production of vitamins B. They help with nutrient metabolism. C, they protect the body from pathogens. D they include all types of bacteria and fungi or e they increase the ability of the immune system. So let's think about what recall what the normal microbiome of humans is. And we can recall these are communities of microbes that grow on or in human bodies under normal circumstances. And with many, if not most of these microbes, we have a symbiotic relationship. So they have very various beneficial effects for us. And of course, we give them nutrients and a home. There are some that just exist and are harmless. Although the more we learn, the more we discover that many bacteria or excuse me, many different types of microbes that we thought initially were just harmless actually benefit us. So it's an area of research where we're learning new things all the time. So we need to pick the one that's not true. Well, if you're not sure one thing you might notice is that everything here except for choice D involves a benefit to a person production of vitamins, nutrient metabolism, protection from pathogens, increasing the ability of the immune system. So if you're playing a game, um which of these is not like the others, which is often useful with multiple choice questions. Choice D they include all types of bacterium fungi, isn't any sort of benefit. So that would point us towards choice D and of course, just logically all types of bacterium fungi, we know that many types of bacterium fungi are harmful to us. So this wouldn't even make sense. You wouldn't want all types of bacterium fungi living on or in your body. So choice D is indeed the answer. The human microbiome includes many varieties of microbes, including many different bacterium fungi, also even some viruses and proteins in archaea, but not all the types of bacterium fungi. So that one might look a little confusing at first, but it's pretty easy to logic this one out we'll just have in the interest of being thorough. Just a brief discussion of our other answer. Choices here. Choice A they're involved in the production of vitamins. And this is true. Many gut bacteria actually produce vitamins as part of their metabolism, including essential ones. For us, specifically the microbes of the gut microbiome um produce vitamins K and B. So this is a true statement. So not our answer choice B they help with nutrient metabolism and this is true. Certain gut bacteria help break down nutrients or help break down substances that our body can't. So nutrient metabolism is another benefit. Choice c they help protect the body from pathogens. And this is true as well. They sometimes outcompete other pathogens. So this is why, for instance, when someone's taking antibiotics, sometimes they get other infections where another pathogen has come in after you've killed off um elements of the normal microbiome. So they can outcompete, they can also help train our immune system. But train in quotation marks um in the sense that when we have say our skin microbiome, when those bacteria get into our body via a cut or a wound, and the body's immune system reacts to that. When a similar type of bacteria comes along, that's more harmful. The body has already formed antibodies that will attack this similar, more harmful bacteria. So in that sense, they train our immune system to recognize pathogens that are similar. So choice c also true and then finally, choice e they increase the immunity ability of the immune system. And this is true as well as we said by training, they help teach or develop self tolerance. So the immune system is less likely to attack its own cells and they tend to reduce the incidence of allergies. So more exposure to a variety of a to develop a greater variety in the microbiome in childhood can lead to less chance of allergies. Later. So choice e also a true statement. So again, our one statement that's not true about the normal microbiome of humans is choice D they include all types of bacteria and fungi. Hope to see you in the next video.

Select the false statement about normal microbiota.
a. They compete with pathogens.
b. They do not include potential pathogens.
c. They make vitamins for the host.
d. They train the immune system.
e. A disruption in their balance can lead to disease.

Key Concepts

Normal Microbiota and Their Role

Potential Pathogens Within Normal Microbiota

Impact of Microbiota on Immune System and Health

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