Figure 1.

Microbes influence taste perception through biofilm and bioactive metabolites. The shape of the tongue dorsum forms a unique ecological site that encourages accumulation of a biological film composed of microorganisms. Bacteria can affect taste perception by acting as a physical barrier (top left) limiting access of taste molecules to taste receptors. Secondly, bacteria metabolism can modulate the concentration of peri-receptor tastants (top left), influencing taste receptor activation and taste sensitivity. Intestinal enteroendocrine cells (EEC) express the same receptors as lingual taste cells. Therefore, these potential mechanisms for bacterial taste alterations hold true for EEC as well (bottom left), allowing for further potential modulation of nutrient sensing.