Abstract
The microbiome plays an important role in maintaining human health. Despite multiple factors being attributed to the shaping of the human microbiome, extrinsic factors such diet and use of medications including antibiotics appear to dominate. Mucosal surfaces, particularly in the gut, are highly adapted to be able to tolerate a large population of microorganisms whilst still being able to produce a rapid and effective immune response against infection. The intestinal microbiome is not functionally independent from the host mucosa and can, through presentation of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and generation of microbe-derived metabolites, fundamentally influence mucosal barrier integrity and modulate host immunity. In a healthy gut there is an abundance of beneficial bacteria that help to preserve intestinal homoeostasis, promote protective immune responses, and limit excessive inflammation. The importance of the microbiome is further highlighted during dysbiosis where a loss of this finely balanced microbial population can lead to mucosal barrier dysfunction, aberrant immune responses, and chronic inflammation that increases the risk of disease development. Improvements in our understanding of the microbiome are providing opportunities to harness members of a healthy microbiota to help reverse dysbiosis, reduce inflammation, and ultimately prevent disease progression.
Highlights
The human body is inhabited by a highly diverse population of microorganisms that has co-evolved with their human hosts over many millennia [1]
This population of highly diverse microorganisms is shaped by numerous factors, most notably, diet and the use of medications such as antibiotics
The intestinal mucosa provides an important interface between the microbiota and host, where the microbiota aids in development of effective host immune responses against pathogens and injury and limits excessive mucosal inflammation to promote tolerance and stability of the gut environment
Summary
The human body is inhabited by a highly diverse population of microorganisms (microbiota) that has co-evolved with their human hosts over many millennia [1]. Research has suggested that dysbiosis plays a role in triggering coeliac disease with a dysregulated immune response and failure to maintain intestinal barrier integrity, leading to mucosal inflammation [191].
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