Intestinal microbiota and Immune system (null)

The “intestinal microbiota and immune system” refers to the *complex and mutually influential relationship* between the microbial communities inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract and the host’s innate and adaptive immune systems. The microbiota includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, which metabolize nutrients, generate bioactive metabolites (such as short-chain fatty acids), and modulate immune cell functions[1][3][4][5][6]. The immune system, composed of mucosal barriers, specialized lymphoid structures (like Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes), and various immune cell types (T cells, B cells, macrophages, dendritic cells), is shaped by microbial signals and metabolites and, in turn, regulates the composition and activity of the microbiota[1][3][5][6][7]. Disruptions in this balance—known as gut dysbiosis—are linked to numerous diseases, including autoimmunity, metabolic disorders, infection susceptibility, and cancer[1][3][5]. **This entity is not a single molecular target** and thus not suitable for canonical therapeutic targeting or molecular categorization in drug discovery.

Other names

Gut microbiota–immune system interactionMicrobiota–immune crosstalkHost–microbiome interplayGut immunome

Modulation of microbial composition impacts host immunity, influencing drug efficacy and toxicity - Antibiotics deplete microbial diversity, alter immune response - Probiotics restore balance, promote anti-inflammatory responses - Immunotherapies may be affected by gut microbiota composition