Pursuing Human-Relevant Gut Microbiota-Immune Interactions

Sean P Spencer; Gabriela K Fragiadakis; Justin L Sonnenburg

doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2019.08.002

Pursuing Human-Relevant Gut Microbiota-Immune Interactions

Immunity. 2019 Aug 20;51(2):225-239. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2019.08.002.

Authors

Sean P Spencer¹, Gabriela K Fragiadakis², Justin L Sonnenburg³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. Electronic address: gabif@stanford.edu.
³ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA; Center for Human Microbiome Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. Electronic address: jsonnenburg@stanford.edu.

Abstract

The gut microbiota is a complex and plastic network of diverse organisms intricately connected with human physiology. Recent advances in profiling approaches of both the microbiota and the immune system now enable a deeper exploration of immunity-microbiota connections. An important next step is to elucidate a human-relevant "map" of microbial-immune wiring while focusing on animal studies to probe a prioritized subset of interactions. Here, we provide an overview of this field's current status and discuss two approaches for establishing priorities for detailed investigation: (1) longitudinal intervention studies in humans probing the dynamics of both the microbiota and the immune system and (2) the study of traditional populations to assess lost features of human microbial identity whose absence may be contributing to the rise of immunological disorders. These human-centered approaches offer a judicious path forward to understand the impact of the microbiota in immune development and function.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Gastrointestinal Microbiome / immunology*
Homeostasis
Host-Pathogen Interactions*
Humans
Immune System*
Immunity
Patient-Centered Care

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding