Impact of Microbiome on Gut Mucosal Immunity in Health and Disease

Bacteria and viruses, major components of the microbiome of the gut, heavily influence mucosal immunity in the mammalian host. The effect of microbiome on the development of a healthy and robust gut immune response is critical for survival as demonstrated by immune responses studies conducted on germ-free mice. On the other hand, gut and respiratory pathogens continue to lead morbidity and mortality in children less than 5 years of age in low and middle-income countries, and microbiome’s influence on gut immune response may in fact contribute directly or indirectly to disease. We seek to evaluate information on how microbiome influence all aspects of gut mucosal immune responses to protect the host against disease or to render the host susceptible to infection or immune-mediated disorders.

We are particularly interested in three aspects:
i) how microbiome modulates the gut mucosal immune response in the newborn and developing infant;
ii) how gut microbiome leads to protection versus immune-mediated disease;
iii) how information on microbiome and gut immune responses may lead to better mucosal vaccines.

The goals of this research topic are to present the highlights of the work done by investigators on the gut microbiome and the role it plays in gut immune system development, in susceptibility to infection or immune-mediated disorders, and on the future of mucosal vaccines development. We welcome Original Research articles, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Case Reports and Perspective articles, on any of the topics below:

- Overview on gut-associated immune response
- Microbiome in the gut of developing infant.
- Influence of microbiome on gut immune system
- Role of microbiome on gut immune response-mediated disease
- Influence of virome on the gut immune response development and on disease
- Future of mucosal vaccines for the developing infant