title: Embryo protection in contemporary immunology: Why bacteria matter.
abstract: Early embryos of many vertebrates and invertebrates develop outside the mother and are exposed to a myriad of potential microbial colonizers. Here we discuss how these embryos are protected from microbial attacks and how they might control and shape their microbiota. In essence we delineate a new role for antimicrobial peptides both in selecting particular bacterial partners during early development and in being important components of a "be prepared" strategy providing transgenerational protection.
authors.affiliation: Christian-Albrechts University Kiel; Zoological Institute; Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fraune
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.forename: Thomas Cg
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Bosch