RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The gut microbiota and host health: a new clinical frontier JF Gut JO Gut FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Society of Gastroenterology SP 330 OP 339 DO 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-309990 VO 65 IS 2 A1 Julian R Marchesi A1 David H Adams A1 Francesca Fava A1 Gerben D A Hermes A1 Gideon M Hirschfield A1 Georgina Hold A1 Mohammed Nabil Quraishi A1 James Kinross A1 Hauke Smidt A1 Kieran M Tuohy A1 Linda V Thomas A1 Erwin G Zoetendal A1 Ailsa Hart YR 2016 UL http://gut.bmj.com/content/65/2/330.abstract AB Over the last 10–15 years, our understanding of the composition and functions of the human gut microbiota has increased exponentially. To a large extent, this has been due to new ‘omic’ technologies that have facilitated large-scale analysis of the genetic and metabolic profile of this microbial community, revealing it to be comparable in influence to a new organ in the body and offering the possibility of a new route for therapeutic intervention. Moreover, it might be more accurate to think of it like an immune system: a collection of cells that work in unison with the host and that can promote health but sometimes initiate disease. This review gives an update on the current knowledge in the area of gut disorders, in particular metabolic syndrome and obesity-related disease, liver disease, IBD and colorectal cancer. The potential of manipulating the gut microbiota in these disorders is assessed, with an examination of the latest and most relevant evidence relating to antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, polyphenols and faecal microbiota transplantation.