Alteration of Immune-Mechanisms by Human Microbiota and Development and Prevention of Human Diseases

摘要

The role of microbiota in regulating the immune system has gained much importance in recent years, since it plays a crucial role in disease development and prevention. The human body harbors 100 trillion commensal microbes, exceeding the number of host cells by more than 10-fold, with a huge amount of genetic information, that is, 100-fold more genes than the human genome. With this enormous pool of genetic information, the microbiota may influence human life at many levels including host immunity and its regulation. The immune mechanisms elucidating the molecular interactions between the microbiota and host immune system components have come up with new and interesting therapeutic approaches. Recent studies focusing on the interactions between microbiota and the host immune system have revealed the fundamental importance of the microbiome in shaping host immune responses, affecting susceptibility against immune-mediated and infectious diseases.A total of 15 manuscripts were received for this special issue, and 9 manuscripts have been accepted for publication after rigorous rounds of review process. This issue provides a glimpse of some of the ongoing efforts in the area of immune regulation by microbiota and management of the human health. For example, some featured papers provide useful information regarding the role of microbiota in altered immune mechanisms in human diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, erythema nodosum, connective tissue diseases and vasculitides, and allergic asthma.