Purpose of review: This review will highlight recent advances functionally linking the gut microbiome with mucosal and systemic immune cell activation underlying autoimmunity.
Recent findings: Dynamic interactions between the gut microbiome and environmental cues (including diet and medicines) shape the effector potential of the microbial organ. Key bacteria and viruses have emerged that, in defined microenvironments, play a critical role in regulating effector lymphocyte functions. The coordinated interactions between these different microbial kingdoms - including bacteria, helminths, and viruses (termed transkingdom interactions) - play a key role in shaping immunity. Emerging strategies to identify immunologically relevant microbes with the potential to regulate immune cell functions both at mucosal sites and systemically will likely define diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
Summary: The microbiome constitutes a critical microbial organ with coordinated interactions that shape host immunity.