title: Commensal host-bacterial relationships in the gut.
abstract: One potential outcome of the adaptive coevolution of humans and bacteria is the development of commensal relationships, where neither partner is harmed, or symbiotic relationships, where unique metabolic traits or other benefits are provided. Our gastrointestinal tract is colonized by a vast community of symbionts and commensals that have important effects on immune function, nutrient processing, and a broad range of other host activities. The current genomic revolution offers an unprecedented opportunity to identify the molecular foundations of these relationships so that we can understand how they contribute to our normal physiology and how they can be exploited to develop new therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000276:immunology; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents