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Microbial Regulation of Gastrointestinal Immunity in Health and Disease

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Neuro-Immuno-Gastroenterology

Abstract

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract represents the front line of microbial-host interaction by virtue of its immense surface area and constant microbial supply from ingested food. The gastrointestinal immune system shapes the communities of microbes throughout the GI tract, and in turn, the microbiota provide metabolites and other cues to support the development and normal function of the immune system. Emerging research shows that this influence on the immune system encompasses both innate and adaptive immunity and extends beyond the gut to anatomical sites throughout the body. This chapter presents an overview of the microbiology and immunology of the GI tract, examines microbial population dynamics revealed by studies such as the Human Microbiome Project and discusses the potential impact of emerging antimicrobial resistance to the microbiota and human health.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, UK

    Sheila Patrick BSc, PhD, DSc, Rebecca J. Ingram BSc (Hons), MRes, PhD & Denise C. Fitzgerald BSc, PhD

  2. Department of Infection and Pathway Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, The Chancellor’s Building, Edinburgh, UK

    Thamarai Schneiders BSc, MSc, PhD

Authors
  1. Sheila Patrick BSc, PhD, DSc
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  2. Rebecca J. Ingram BSc (Hons), MRes, PhD
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  3. Thamarai Schneiders BSc, MSc, PhD
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  4. Denise C. Fitzgerald BSc, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Denise C. Fitzgerald BSc, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology, C Floor South Block, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom

    Cris Constantinescu

  2. Atlantic Digestive Health Institute, Morristown Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Razvan Arsenescu

  3. Armedica LLC, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Violeta Arsenescu

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Patrick, S., Ingram, R.J., Schneiders, T., Fitzgerald, D.C. (2016). Microbial Regulation of Gastrointestinal Immunity in Health and Disease. In: Constantinescu, C., Arsenescu, R., Arsenescu, V. (eds) Neuro-Immuno-Gastroenterology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28609-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28609-9_3

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