The intestinal microbiota is a massive and complex community, essential to the human host for good health and well-being. However, this population has been associated with gastrointestinal disease, and remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to develop and validate DNA-based assays for the intestinal microbiota and to apply these methodologies to faecal samples collected from healthy volunteers and patients with gastrointestinal disease. Over 250 faecal samples were analysed using temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE) and real time PCR. Validated assays had high sensitivity and reproducibility. Healthy individuals displayed a high level of temporal stability during short term studies (≤ 6 weeks) and long term studies (1-4years). Analysis of faecal samples provided by identical and fraternal twins demonstrated an influence of host genetics over the composition of the predominant bacteria in children. Two intervention studies, bowel lavage and the Atkins' diet, were carried out to monitor the impact of environmental change on the population's stability in healthy volunteers. Following bowel lavage, microbial populations rapidly recovered to control densities, however the stability of the population was disturbed. Introduction of the Atkins' diet, led to a significant change in the composition of the microbial population. A preliminary study of the intestinal microbiota in disease groups was undertaken. Significant differences were detected between inflammatory bowel disease groups and controls. Cluster analysis in these patients indicated a potential association between the composition of the predominant bacterial population and disease localisation. The studies reported here demonstrate that the faecal microbiota in healthy individuals is a highly stable population under the influence of both host genetics and environmental variables, however the population present in patients with inflammatory bowel disease exhibits differences compared to healthy controls.

Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / The primary aim of this thesis was to identify probiotics and/or prebiotics with the potential to reduce the severity of experimental colitis. The specific aims were to i) screen a range of candidate pro biotic strains for capacity to reduce symptoms of DSS-colitis, ii) characterize the effects of DSS within the small intestine, iii) assess, in vitro, the effect of probiotics on intestinal epithelial cell integrity, iv) assess the potential for the prebiotic, fructooligosaccharide, to reduce the severity of DSS-colitis alone, and in synbiotic combination with a probiotic strain. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1280844 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, 2007

Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / The primary aim of this thesis was to identify probiotics and/or prebiotics with the potential to reduce the severity of experimental colitis. The specific aims were to i) screen a range of candidate pro biotic strains for capacity to reduce symptoms of DSS-colitis, ii) characterize the effects of DSS within the small intestine, iii) assess, in vitro, the effect of probiotics on intestinal epithelial cell integrity, iv) assess the potential for the prebiotic, fructooligosaccharide, to reduce the severity of DSS-colitis alone, and in synbiotic combination with a probiotic strain. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1280844 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, 2007

Tez (Yüksek Lisans) - Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Halk Sağlığı Anabilim Dalı, 2006. / Bibliyografya var.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol inst., 2004. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2008. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.