title: New developments providing mechanistic insight into the impact of the microbiota on allergic disease.
abstract: The increase in allergic diseases over the past several decades is correlated with changes in the composition and diversity of the intestinal microbiota. Microbial-derived signals are critical for instructing the developing immune system and conversely, immune regulation can impact the microbiota. Perturbations in the microbiota composition may be especially important during early-life when the immune system is still developing, resulting in a critical window of opportunity for instructing the immune system. This review highlights recent studies investigating the role of the microbiome in susceptibility or development of allergic diseases with a focus on animal models that provide insight into the mechanisms and pathways involved. Identification of a causal link between reduced microbial diversity or altered microbial composition and increased susceptibility to immune-mediated diseases will hopefully pave the way for better preventive therapies.
authors.affiliation: Mucosal Immunology Lab, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: mccoy@dkf.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Kathy D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.affiliation: Mucosal Immunology Lab, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Köller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D044822:Biodiversity; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D004032:Diet; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000276:immunology*; D005856:Germ-Free Life / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D061148:Hygiene Hypothesis; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Allergy; Germ-free; IgE; Immune regulation; Microbiota