Human nutrition, the gut microbiome and the immune system

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 474; no. 7351; pp. 327 - 336
• Main Authors: Kau, Andrew L., Ahern, Philip P., Griffin, Nicholas W., Goodman, Andrew L., Gordon, Jeffrey I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 16-06-2011; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/250; 692/698/2741/2135; 692/699/1702/295; Analysis; Animals; Composition; Diet; Diet - trends; Gastrointestinal Tract - immunology; Gastrointestinal Tract - microbiology; Global health; Health aspects; Health problems; Human nutrition; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Immune system; Immune System - immunology; Metagenome - immunology; Metagenomics; Microbial activity; Microbiology; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Milk, Human - immunology; Mortality; multidisciplinary; Nutrition; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - physiology; Nutritional status; Obesity - immunology; Obesity - microbiology; Population growth; review-article; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Socioeconomics; Traditions; Womens health; United States
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/nature10213

Marked changes in socio-economic status, cultural traditions, population growth and agriculture are affecting diets worldwide. Understanding how our diet and nutritional status influence the composition and dynamic operations of our gut microbial communities, and the innate and adaptive arms of our immune system, represents an area of scientific need, opportunity and challenge. The insights gleaned should help to address several pressing global health problems.