T lymphocytes control microbial composition by regulating the abundance of Vibrio in the zebrafish gut.

ABSTRACT: Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbial community is considered a risk factor for development of chronic intestinal inflammation as well as other diseases such as diabetes, obesity and even cancer. Study of the innate and adaptive immune pathways controlling bacterial colonization has however proven difficult in rodents, considering the extensive cross-talk between bacteria and innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we used the zebrafish to study innate and adaptive immune processes controlling the microbial community. Zebrafish lack a functional adaptive immune system in the first weeks of life, enabling study of the innate immune system in the absence of adaptive immunity. We show that in wild type zebrafish, the initial lack of adaptive immunity associates with overgrowth of Vibrio species (

SUBMITTER: Brugman S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4615293 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature