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Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine Small Intestinal Lymphocytes
Published on: May 8, 2016
Roles of the intestinal microbiota in pathogen protection
Carles Ubeda1, Ana Djukovic2, Sandrine Isaac2
1Departamento de Genómica y Salud, Centro Superior de Investigación en Salud Pública - FISABIO, Valencia, Spain; Centers of Biomedical Research Network (CIBER) in Epidemiology and Public Health, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Hundreds of commensal bacterial species inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. This diverse microbial ecosystem plays a crucial role in the prevention and resolution of infectious diseases. In this review we will describe the major mechanisms by which the intestinal microbiota confers protection against infections, focusing on those caused by intestinal bacterial pathogens. These mechanisms include both non-immune- and immune-cell-mediated pathways, notably through bacterial production of inhibitory molecules and nutrient deprivation by the former and innate lymphoid cell-, myeloid cell- or lymphocyte-dependent stimulation by the latter. Finally, we will discuss novel therapeutic approaches based on commensal microbes and their products, which could potentially be used to combat infections.
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