Gastrointestinal stress as innate defence against microbial attack |
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Authors: | H Panwar N Rokana S V Aparna J Kaur A Singh J Singh KS Singh V Chaudhary AK Puniya |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Dairy Microbiology, College of Dairy Science and Technology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India;2. Department of Dairy Microbiology, College of Dairy Science and Technology, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University, Mannuthy, Thrissur, India;3. Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany;4. Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India;5. Dairy Microbiology Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India |
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Abstract: | The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract has been bestowed with the most difficult task of protecting the underlying biological compartments from the resident commensal flora and the potential pathogens in transit through the GI tract. It has a unique environment in which several defence tactics are at play while maintaining homeostasis and health. The GI tract shows myriad number of environmental extremes, which includes pH variations, anaerobic conditions, nutrient limitations, elevated osmolarity etc., which puts a check to colonization and growth of nonfriendly microbial strains. The GI tract acts as a highly selective barrier/platform for ingested food and is the primary playground for balance between the resident and uninvited organisms. This review focuses on antimicrobial defense mechanisms of different sections of human GI tract. In addition, the protective mechanisms used by microbes to combat the human GI defence systems are also discussed. The ability to survive this innate defence mechanism determines the capability of probiotic or pathogen strains to confer health benefits or induce clinical events respectively. |
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Keywords: | commensal GI tract gut immunity host–microbe interactions immunology pathogens probiotics |
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