Neel Deshpande - Senior Editor, Internal Medicine
Date Published: 2 April, 2023
The article “Role of the Microbiota in Immunity and Inflammation” by Dr. Yasmine Belkaid and Dr. Timothy W. Hand explores the intricate relationship between the gut microbiome and the human immune system. The gut microbiome is located in the small and large intestine of the human body. As we consume our daily meals, the food gets broken down in our stomach and passes through the small and large intestine where the nutrients are absorbed into our body. However, some of the food that we eat is not able to be broken down through normal means. The bacteria that make up the gut microbiome break down these unabsorbable nutrients into a form that we can absorb. The immune system and the gut microbiome work together to regulate the body’s natural immune responses, which are critical to maintaining optimal bodily function. However, this symbiotic relationship is not perfect. Modern society faces two major issues: unregulated immune responses can lead to allergic reactions, autoimmune disorders, and chronic inflammatory diseases, while the overuse of antibiotics can harm the bacteria that humans need to survive, weakening immune responses. Currently, there are many breakthroughs occurring in the fields of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that are due to unregulated immune responses. Immunologists are currently investigating probiotics and other microbiome-based therapies as potential treatments for immune-related disorders in the small and large intestine.
This research paper has transformed how we view the relationship between microorganisms and the human body, how the microbiome interacts with the immune system, and how we can improve the lives of others. The article challenges the traditional view that microorganisms as mere pathogens and highlights a complex relationship that has yet to be fully understood. In addition, the article brings attention to the potential harms of prescribing antibiotic medications. However, scientists are hopeful that potential probiotic and microbiome based interventions can pose significant humanitarian effects in developing countries as they are the most impacted by infectious diseases and malnutrition.
References:
Belkaid, Yasmine, and Timothy W. Hand. “Role of the Microbiota in Immunity and Inflammation.” Cell, vol. 157, no. 1, Mar. 2014, pp. 121–141, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4056765/, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2014.03.011.
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