title: Revealing microbial recognition by specific antibodies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recognition of microorganisms by antibodies is a vital component of the human immune response. However, there is currently very limited understanding of immune recognition of 50 % of the human microbiome which is made up of as yet un-culturable bacteria. We have combined the use of flow cytometry and pyrosequencing to describe the microbial composition of human samples, and its interaction with the immune system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We show the power of the technique in human faecal, saliva, oral biofilm and breast milk samples, labeled with fluorescent anti-IgG or anti-IgA antibodies. Using Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS), bacterial cells were separated depending on whether they are coated with IgA or IgG antibodies. Each bacterial population was PCR-amplified and pyrosequenced, characterizing the microorganisms which evade the immune system and those which were recognized by each immunoglobulin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of the technique to healthy and diseased individuals may unravel the contribution of the immune response to microbial infections and polymicrobial diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Genomics, FISABIO Foundation, Center for Advanced Research in Public Health, Avda. Cataluña 21, 46020, Valencia, Spain. simon.aurea@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Áurea
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Simón-Soro
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Genomics, FISABIO Foundation, Center for Advanced Research in Public Health, Avda. Cataluña 21, 46020, Valencia, Spain. dauria_giu@gva.es.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Auria
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Spanish National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), 46980, Valencia, Spain. mcolam@iata.csic.es.
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Collado
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Genomics, FISABIO Foundation, Center for Advanced Research in Public Health, Avda. Cataluña 21, 46020, Valencia, Spain. dzunkova_mar@gva.es.
authors.forename: Mária
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Džunková
authors.affiliation: Infection and Immunity Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Shauna.Culshaw@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Shauna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Culshaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Genomics, FISABIO Foundation, Center for Advanced Research in Public Health, Avda. Cataluña 21, 46020, Valencia, Spain. mira_ale@gva.es.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mira
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D064307:Microbiota; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000382:microbiology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial