A common origin for immunity and digestion.
Historically, the digestive and immune systems were viewed and studied as separate entities. However, there are remarkable similarities and shared functions in both nutrient acquisition and host defense. Here, I propose a common origin for both systems. This association provides a new prism for viewing the emergence and evolution of host defense mechanisms.
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA.
Nichole A
NA
Broderick
digestion physiology; evolution; gut microbiome; host-microbe interactions; innate immunity; metabolism