Sammendrag
Commensal microbes are currently in the limelight in biomedical research because they
play an important role in health and disease. Humans harbor an enormous diversity of
commensals in various parts of the body, including the gastrointestinal and respiratory
tracts. Advancement in metagenomic and other omic approaches, and development
of suitable animal models have provided an unprecedented appreciation into the diversity
of commensals, and the intricacies of their intimate communication with the host
immune system. Most studies have focused on the host–commensal interaction in the
gut, while less is known on this relationship in other sites of the body, such as the
respiratory tract. In this article, we review emerging data from human and animal studies
on the host responses to respiratory commensals, immune cross-reactivity between
commensals and pathogens, and use of commensals as a vaccine delivery system. A better understanding of the delicate interplay between commensals and host may aid in efforts to develop effective vaccines and therapeutics.
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