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Enterotype Shifting

Meaning

Enterotype shifting describes a sustained, clinically significant change in the dominant, stable community structure of the gut microbiota, moving from one distinct enterotype to another. An enterotype is a classification of the gut microbiome based on the relative abundance of a few key bacterial genera, such as Bacteroides, Prevotella, or Ruminococcus. This shift is often a therapeutic goal, aiming to replace a less favorable microbial profile with one associated with greater metabolic health and reduced inflammatory potential.