
Gut immune maturation depends on colonization with a host-specific microbiota.
Gut microbial induction of host immune maturation exemplifies host-microbe mutualism. We colonized germ-free (GF) mice with mouse microbiota (MMb) or human microbiota (HMb) to determine whether small intestinal immune maturation depends on a coevolved host-specific microbiota. Gut bacterial numbers and phylum abundance were similar in MMb and HMb mice, but bacterial species differed, especially the Firmicutes. HMb mouse intestines had low levels of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, few proliferating T cells, few dendritic cells, and low antimicrobial peptide expression--all characteristics of GF mice. Rat microbiota also failed to fully expand intestinal T cell numbers in mice. Colonizing GF or HMb mice with mouse-segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) partially restored T cell numbers, suggesting that SFB and other MMb organisms are required for full immune maturation in mice. Importantly, MMb conferred better protection against Salmonella infection than HMb. A host-specific microbiota appears to be critical for a healthy immune system.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- T-Lymphocytes
- Symbiosis
- Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
- Species Specificity
- Salmonella Infections
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Rats
- Mice
- Metagenome
- Male
Citation

Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- T-Lymphocytes
- Symbiosis
- Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
- Species Specificity
- Salmonella Infections
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Rats
- Mice
- Metagenome
- Male