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Related Concept Videos

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics01:21

Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic Poly(I:C)
07:13

Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic Poly(I:C)

Published on: March 25, 2016

The role of microbes in developmental immunologic programming.

Jess L Kaplan1, Hai Ning Shi, W Allan Walker

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.

Pediatric Research
|March 3, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The gut microbiome significantly impacts digestion and immunity. Early-life microbial exposures, influenced by hygiene and fetal programming, shape immune development and disease susceptibility.

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A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
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Generating a Reproducible Model of Mid-Gestational Maternal Immune Activation using Poly(I:C) to Study Susceptibility and Resilience in Offspring
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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • The understanding of gut microorganisms has evolved from viewing them as pathogens or commensals to recognizing their crucial role in host health.
  • The gut microbiome is essential for digestion, pathogen protection, and immune system regulation and development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the evolving understanding of the gut microbiome's role in host health.
  • To investigate the convergence of the hygiene hypothesis and fetal programming hypothesis.
  • To examine the impact of early-life microbial exposures on immune system development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent clinical, epidemiologic, and basic science research.
  • Analysis of complex microbe-host interactions.
  • Integration of observations supporting the hygiene and fetal programming hypotheses.

Main Results:

  • Gut microbes are integral to host physiology, including immune function.
  • Early-life microbial exposures profoundly influence the developing immune system.
  • Microbe-host interactions during critical windows impact immune phenotype and disease risk.

Conclusions:

  • The traditional view of gut microbes is outdated; they are critical for host health.
  • The fetal programming hypothesis can be expanded to include a host-microbe corollary.
  • Microbial exposures in early life are key determinants of immune health and immune-mediated diseases.