Environmentally-acquired bacteria influence microbial diversity and natural innate immune responses at gut surfaces.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early microbial colonization of the gut reduces the incidence of infectious, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Recent population studies reveal that childhood hygiene is a significant risk factor for development of inflammatory bowel disease, thereby reinforcing the hygiene hypothesis and the potential importance of microbial colonization during early life. The extent to which early-life environment impacts on microbial diversity of the adult gut and subsequent immune processes has not been comprehensively investigated thus far. We addressed this important question using the pig as a model to evaluate the impact of early-life environment on microbe/host gut interactions during development.

Results

Genetically-related piglets were housed in either indoor or out

SUBMITTER: Mulder IE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2785767 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature