How do microbe-immune interactions in the gut shape the function of our immune system?

The most pronounced colonization of the newborn infant occurs in the intestine and the establishment of the gut microbiota starts immediately during and after birth. The mucosal epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract is the largest surface of the human body where an important cross talk between microbial antigens, epithelial cells and the immune system takes place. These interactions seem to be of major importance for intestinal and epithelial homeostasis as well as for immune maturation, as demonstrated in several different murine models. While the gut microbiota composition of a healthy adult is remarkably stable, the neonatal microbiota is very dynamic, and highly dependent on factors such as delivery mode, hygienic standards and antibiotic usage. Read more

Gut microbes and chemotherapy efficacy and toxicity in vitro and in vivo

Microbe-host interactions are key for the host. They actively influence intestinal gut homeostasis and immune function as well as host physiology also outside the gastrointestinal tract. However, there is also a risk for adverse effects, in particular following dysbiosis, when the microbiota is altered/disturbed. Indeed, many multifactorial diseases like allergic, autoimmune, metabolic but also neoplastic disorders are nowadays associated with intestinal dysbiosis to different degrees and the connections between microbiota and cancer are now discussed. Cancer treatments are cytotoxic and affect our commensal microbiota and thereby also alter the microbiota-immune system communication. Nowadays it is further acknowledged that the chemotherapy-microbiota cross talk is bidirectional and that our gut microbiota in turn defines the efficacy and toxicity of several drugs including chemotherapy. Read more