High throughput sequencing reveals distinct microbial populations within the mucosal and luminal niches in healthy individuals.

Background: The intestinal microbiota is associated with human health and diseases. The luminal microbiota (LM) and the mucosal-associated microbiota (MAM) are 2 distinct ecosystems with different metabolic and immunological functions.

Aim: To characterize the intestinal LM and MAM in humans using high throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.