The gut microbiota in pigs: ecology and biotherapeutics

The community of microorganisms inhabiting the intestine of mammals are referred to as the gut microbiome and are known to influence the health of their host. Despite extensive work in the last decades, we still know remarkably little about their diversity and the molecular mechanisms underlying interactions with the host. After reviewing the main methods used to analyse gut microbiomes, we summarize data on the structural and functional diversity of the microbial ecosystem in pigs and also highlight the potential of cultivation and applications based on the use of minimal bacterial consortia.