Interactions between the microbiota and the immune system.
The large numbers of microorganisms that inhabit mammalian body surfaces have a highly coevolved relationship with the immune system. Although many of these microbes carry out functions that are critical for host physiology, they nevertheless pose the threat of breach with ensuing pathologies. The mammalian immune system plays an essential role in maintaining homeostasis with resident microbial communities, thus ensuring that the mutualistic nature of the host-microbial relationship is maintained. At the same time, resident bacteria profoundly shape mammalian immunity. Here, we review advances in our understanding of the interactions between resident microbes and the immune system and the implications of these findings for human health.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Immunology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. lora.hooper@utsouthwestern.edu
Lora V
LV
Hooper
Dan R
DR
Littman
Andrew J
AJ
Macpherson
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D007109:Immunity; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007249:Inflammation; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D054892:Metagenome / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D013559:Symbiosis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology