The Landscape Ecology and Microbiota of the Human Nose, Mouth, and Throat

Publication date: 12 April 2017
Source:Cell Host & Microbe, Volume 21, Issue 4
Author(s): Diana M. Proctor, David A. Relman
Landscape ecology examines the relationships between the spatial arrangement of different landforms and the processes that give rise to spatial and temporal patterns in local community structure. The spatial ecology of the microbial communities that inhabit the human body—in particular, those of the nose, mouth, and throat—deserves greater attention. Important questions include what defines the size of a population (i.e., "patch") in a given body site, what defines the boundaries of distinct patches within a single body site, and where and over what spatial scales within a body site are gradients detected. This Review looks at the landscape ecology of the upper respiratory tract and mouth and seeks greater clarity about the physiological factors—whether immunological, chemical, or physical—that govern microbial community composition and function and the ecological traits that underlie health and disease.

Teaser

Theory, methods, and principles of landscape ecology enhance our understanding of the spatial scales, patterns, and processes that underlie host-microbiota interactions. As examined in this Review by Proctor and Relman, the human nose, mouth, and throat are attractive study sites for elucidating microbial biogeography, host physiology, and immune function.


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