Commensals, bacterial pathogens and intestinal inflammation: an intriguing ménage à trois.
According to a classical view of bacterial-host interactions at intestinal surfaces, the commensal microbiota establishes tolerance, and invasive pathogens cause stereotypic inflammation. The reality is more complex, marked by a "ménage à trois" situation encompassing three emerging concepts: (1) pathogens take advantage of inflammation to cross the epithelial barrier, (2) pathogens reduce the commensal flora to invade their niche, and (3) pathogens express dedicated effectors that modulate inflammation.
Unité de Pathogénie Microbienne Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, 28 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Thierry
T
Pédron
Philippe
P
Sansonetti
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D013559:Symbiosis