Interactions of commensal bacteria with the host immune system

Intestinal microbiota play roles in intestinal homeostasis via interactions with the epithelium and innate and adaptive immune mechanisms of the gut, thereby profoundly shaping mammalian mucosal immunity and tolerance. However, in some diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the microbiota may assume a pathologic character, worsening damage to the host. Despite recent advances in our understanding of the microbiota composition at different stages of life and perturbations associated with disease, our understanding of functional impact of microbiota, and the contribution of specific microbial taxa on health is still limited. The aim of this thesis research was to contribute to our knowledge and understanding of several aspects of the interactions between gut commensal bacteria and host, focusing on Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, a microbe associated with human intestinal health, for the detailed mechanistic studies.

thesis Oriana Rossi (click here)