Host/microbiota interactions in health and diseases-Time for mucosal microbiology!

During the last 20 years, a new field of research delineating the importance of the microbiota in health and diseases has emerged. Inappropriate host-microbiota interactions have been shown to trigger a wide range of chronic inflammatory diseases, and defining the exact mechanisms behind perturbations of such relationship, as well as ways by which these disturbances can lead to disease states, both remain to be fully elucidated. The mucosa-associated microbiota constitutes a recently studied microbial population closely linked with the promotion of chronic intestinal inflammation and associated disease states. This review will highlight seminal works that have brought into light the importance of the mucosa-associated microbiota in health and diseases, emphasizing the challenges and promises of expending the mucosal microbiology field of research.

Automated summary

In the past 20 years, a new research field has emerged outlining the importance of the microbiota in health and diseases. Inappropriate host-microbiota interactions have been shown to trigger chronic inflammatory diseases, with the mucosa-associated microbiota playing a key role in chronic intestinal inflammation and associated disease states. Expanding research in mucosal microbiology presents both challenges and promises in understanding the mechanisms behind these relationships.