The Interplay between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System in the Context of Infectious Diseases throughout Life and the Role of Nutrition in Optimizing Treatment Strategies

Infectious diseases and infections remain a leading cause of death in low-income countries and a major risk to vulnerable groups, such as infants and the elderly. The immune system plays a crucial role in the susceptibility, persistence, and clearance of these infections. With 70-80% of immune cells...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nutrients 2021-03, Vol.13 (3), p.886
Main Authors: Wiertsema, Selma P, van Bergenhenegouwen, Jeroen, Garssen, Johan, Knippels, Leon M J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibiotics
Antigens
Bacteria
Defense mechanisms
Digestive system
Gene expression
gut health
Health services
Homeostasis
Immune clearance
Immune response
Immune system
Infections
Infectious diseases
Inflammation
Intestinal microflora
Intestine
Lymphocytes
Metabolites
microbiome
Microbiomes
Microbiota
Microorganisms
Mucosal immunity
Nutrition
Older people
Pathogens
Peptides
Review
systemic immunity
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Summary:Infectious diseases and infections remain a leading cause of death in low-income countries and a major risk to vulnerable groups, such as infants and the elderly. The immune system plays a crucial role in the susceptibility, persistence, and clearance of these infections. With 70-80% of immune cells being present in the gut, there is an intricate interplay between the intestinal microbiota, the intestinal epithelial layer, and the local mucosal immune system. In addition to the local mucosal immune responses in the gut, it is increasingly recognized that the gut microbiome also affects systemic immunity. Clinicians are more and more using the increased knowledge about these complex interactions between the immune system, the gut microbiome, and human pathogens. The now well-recognized impact of nutrition on the composition of the gut microbiota and the immune system elucidates the role nutrition can play in improving health. This review describes the mechanisms involved in maintaining the intricate balance between the microbiota, gut health, the local immune response, and systemic immunity, linking this to infectious diseases throughout life, and highlights the impact of nutrition in infectious disease prevention and treatment.
ISSN:2072-6643
2072-6643
DOI:10.3390/nu13030886