Patterns of Early-Life Gut Microbial Colonization during Human Immune Development: An Ecological Perspective
Alterations in gut microbial colonization during early life have been reported in infants that later developed asthma, allergies, type 1 diabetes, as well as in inflammatory bowel disease patients, previous to disease flares. Mechanistic studies in animal models have established that microbial alter...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00788/full |
| _version_ | 1818271294039261184 |
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| author | Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe Marie-Claire Arrieta Marie-Claire Arrieta |
| author_facet | Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe Marie-Claire Arrieta Marie-Claire Arrieta |
| author_sort | Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Alterations in gut microbial colonization during early life have been reported in infants that later developed asthma, allergies, type 1 diabetes, as well as in inflammatory bowel disease patients, previous to disease flares. Mechanistic studies in animal models have established that microbial alterations influence disease pathogenesis via changes in immune system maturation. Strong evidence points to the presence of a window of opportunity in early life, during which changes in gut microbial colonization can result in immune dysregulation that predisposes susceptible hosts to disease. Although the ecological patterns of microbial succession in the first year of life have been partly defined in specific human cohorts, the taxonomic and functional features, and diversity thresholds that characterize these microbial alterations are, for the most part, unknown. In this review, we summarize the most important links between the temporal mosaics of gut microbial colonization and the age-dependent immune functions that rely on them. We also highlight the importance of applying ecology theory to design studies that explore the interactions between this complex ecosystem and the host immune system. Focusing research efforts on understanding the importance of temporally structured patterns of diversity, keystone groups, and inter-kingdom microbial interactions for ecosystem functions has great potential to enable the development of biologically sound interventions aimed at maintaining and/or improving immune system development and preventing disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:23:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-72fc0156db68477b9b708f078e1f67f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:23:53Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-72fc0156db68477b9b708f078e1f67f12022-12-22T00:11:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242017-07-01810.3389/fimmu.2017.00788276727Patterns of Early-Life Gut Microbial Colonization during Human Immune Development: An Ecological PerspectiveIsabelle Laforest-Lapointe0Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe1Marie-Claire Arrieta2Marie-Claire Arrieta3Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaAlterations in gut microbial colonization during early life have been reported in infants that later developed asthma, allergies, type 1 diabetes, as well as in inflammatory bowel disease patients, previous to disease flares. Mechanistic studies in animal models have established that microbial alterations influence disease pathogenesis via changes in immune system maturation. Strong evidence points to the presence of a window of opportunity in early life, during which changes in gut microbial colonization can result in immune dysregulation that predisposes susceptible hosts to disease. Although the ecological patterns of microbial succession in the first year of life have been partly defined in specific human cohorts, the taxonomic and functional features, and diversity thresholds that characterize these microbial alterations are, for the most part, unknown. In this review, we summarize the most important links between the temporal mosaics of gut microbial colonization and the age-dependent immune functions that rely on them. We also highlight the importance of applying ecology theory to design studies that explore the interactions between this complex ecosystem and the host immune system. Focusing research efforts on understanding the importance of temporally structured patterns of diversity, keystone groups, and inter-kingdom microbial interactions for ecosystem functions has great potential to enable the development of biologically sound interventions aimed at maintaining and/or improving immune system development and preventing disease.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00788/fullmicrobiomeearly-life eventsimmune developmentmicrobial ecologydiversitykeystone taxa |
| spellingShingle | Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe Marie-Claire Arrieta Marie-Claire Arrieta Patterns of Early-Life Gut Microbial Colonization during Human Immune Development: An Ecological Perspective Frontiers in Immunology microbiome early-life events immune development microbial ecology diversity keystone taxa |
| title | Patterns of Early-Life Gut Microbial Colonization during Human Immune Development: An Ecological Perspective |
| title_full | Patterns of Early-Life Gut Microbial Colonization during Human Immune Development: An Ecological Perspective |
| title_fullStr | Patterns of Early-Life Gut Microbial Colonization during Human Immune Development: An Ecological Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patterns of Early-Life Gut Microbial Colonization during Human Immune Development: An Ecological Perspective |
| title_short | Patterns of Early-Life Gut Microbial Colonization during Human Immune Development: An Ecological Perspective |
| title_sort | patterns of early life gut microbial colonization during human immune development an ecological perspective |
| topic | microbiome early-life events immune development microbial ecology diversity keystone taxa |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00788/full |
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