The Discussion Goes on: What Is the Role ofEuryarchaeotain Humans?

Abstract

The human body (primarily the intestinal tract, the oral cavity, and the skin) harbours approximately 1,000 different bacterial species. However, the number of archaeal species known to colonize man seems to be confined to a handful of organisms within the classEuryarchaeota(includingMethanobrevibacter smithii,M. oralis, andMethanosphaera stadtmanae). In contrast to this conspicuously low diversity ofArchaeain humans their unique physiology in conjunction with the growing number of reports regarding their occurrence at sites of infection has made this issue an emerging field of study. While previous review articles in recent years have addressed the putative role of particularly methanogenic archaea for human health and disease, this paper compiles novel experimental data that have been reported since then. The aim of this paper is to inspire the scientific community of “Archaeaexperts” for those unique archaeal organisms that have successfully participated in the human-microbe coevolution.