Microbiota Immune Response Flashcards
What are the majority of the cells in our bodies?
Bacteria make up most of our cells, outnumbering our cells 10 to 1
What are some of the beneficial functions of the microbiota?
- Help develop the immune system
- Provide energy via polysaccharides
- Provide vitamins
- Protection from pathogenic bacteria
What causes Clostridium difficile Disease?
Treatment with antibiotics will kill commensals and allow C. difficile to invade and release toxins
What can the microbiota offer protection against?
Intestinal inflammation and pathogenic bacteria
What is the Hygiene Hypothesis?
Early childhood infections may offer protection from allergies later in life
What is the idea behind the Hygience Hypothesis?
Infections cause Th1 responses which will down regulated Th2 responses, of which the IgE allergic reaction is a part of
How can the microbiota influence obesity?
Transfer of lean fecal matter in mice from obese people led to obese people and from lean people led to lean mice
What can change the composition of microbiota?
- Antibiotics
- Diet
- Environment
- Caesarian Delivery
What was found regarding commensal bacteria and cancer therapy?
Patients on antibiotics had worse outcomes. Antibiotics seemed to interfere with treatment.
How do bacteria protect from intestinal inflammation?
They are in a balance of pro/anti-inflammatory factors and dysbiosis can lead to Th1 and Th17 favoritism over Treg.
What increased allergy in children?
Children given antibiotics in the first year of life
How does diet effect the microbiota?
High fat diets can alter it and lead to obesity
What can dysbiosis cause?
Dysbiosis of gut commensals likely contributes to chronic inflammatory diseases, e.g., IBD, autoimmunity, allergy and obesity
