title: The interplay between the gut microbiota and the immune system.
abstract: The impact of the gut microbiota on immune homeostasis within the gut and, importantly, also at systemic sites has gained tremendous research interest over the last few years. The intestinal microbiota is an integral component of a fascinating ecosystem that interacts with and benefits its host on several complex levels to achieve a mutualistic relationship. Host-microbial homeostasis involves appropriate immune regulation within the gut mucosa to maintain a healthy gut while preventing uncontrolled immune responses against the beneficial commensal microbiota potentially leading to chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Furthermore, recent studies suggest that the microbiota composition might impact on the susceptibility to immune-mediated disorders such as autoimmunity and allergy. Understanding how the microbiota modulates susceptibility to these diseases is an important step toward better prevention or treatment options for such diseases.
authors.affiliation: Mucosal Immunology Lab; Department of Clinical Research; University of Bern; Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Markus B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Geuking
authors.affiliation: Mucosal Immunology Lab; Department of Clinical Research; University of Bern; Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Köller
authors.affiliation: Mucosal Immunology Lab; Department of Clinical Research; University of Bern; Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rupp
authors.affiliation: Mucosal Immunology Lab; Department of Clinical Research; University of Bern; Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Kathy D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: McCoy
mesh_terms: D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D064307:Microbiota / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: IgA; allergies; autoimmunity; homeostasis; innate lymphoid cells; microbial conditioning; microbiota; regulatory T cells