Mucosal Immunity

The gut microbiome has important roles in host metabolism and immunity, and microbial dysbiosis affects human physiology and health. Maternal immunity and microbial metabolites during pregnancy, microbial transfer during birth, and transfer of immune factors, microorganisms and metabolites via breastfeeding provide critical sources of early-life microbial and immune training, with important consequences for human health. Only a few studies have directly examined the interactions between the gut microbiome and the immune system during pregnancy, and the subsequent effect on offspring development. In this Review, we aim to describe how the maternal microbiome shapes overall pregnancy-associated maternal, fetal and early neonatal immune systems, focusing on the existing evidence and highlighting current gaps to promote further research. This Review discusses how the maternal gut microbiome in pregnancy influences the developing immune system and proposes avenues for future research.

The potential impact of cervicovaginal bacteria on HIV susceptibility is not well-defined.
Gosmann et al. (2017) identify anaerobic cervicovaginal bacterial communities and
specific taxa highly prevalent in young healthy South African women that increase
their HIV risk. These findings might be leveraged to reduce HIV acquisition in women.

is the most recent part of Immunology!

It appeared less than 40 years ago, while systemic immunity exploded 60  years ago.

It is still a minor part of Immunology teaching and research, while the mucosal immune system is at the frontline of encounters with germs, antigens... in other words the environment.

major keywords:

> 450 posts IgA http://www.scoop.it/t/mucosal-immunity?q=IgA

> 125 posts tolerance http://www.scoop.it/t/mucosal-immunity?q=tolerance

> 400 posts : microbiome http://www.scoop.it/t/mucosal-immunity?q=microbiome

july 2015: almost 2100 scoops, >1700 visitors, >3900 views

november 2017 >10K views of >3300 scoops

june 2020 >17.6K views, >5.5K visitors,  >4.5K scoops

may 2024 >22K views, >6.9 visitors,  >5.2 scoops