title: The functional impact of the intestinal microbiome on mucosal immunity and systemic autoimmunity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review will highlight recent advances functionally linking the gut microbiome with mucosal and systemic immune cell activation underlying autoimmunity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dynamic interactions between the gut microbiome and environmental cues (including diet and medicines) shape the effector potential of the microbial organ. Key bacteria and viruses have emerged that, in defined microenvironments, play a critical role in regulating effector lymphocyte functions. The coordinated interactions between these different microbial kingdoms - including bacteria, helminths, and viruses (termed transkingdom interactions) - play a key role in shaping immunity. Emerging strategies to identify immunologically relevant microbes with the potential to regulate immune cell functions both at mucosal sites and systemically will likely define diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The microbiome constitutes a critical microbial organ with coordinated interactions that shape host immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Jill Roberts Institute for IBD Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Randy S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Longman
authors.forename: Dan R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Littman
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000276:immunology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000276:immunology*; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000276:immunology; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology