Role of the Gut Microbiota in the Development and Function of Lymphoid Cells

Mammals are colonized by large numbers of microorganisms, including trillions of bacteria, most of which live in the intestinal tract. These indigenous microorganisms that inhabit the body of humans and animals are referred collectively to as the microbiota. Accumulating evidence indicates that the microbiota regulates the development and/or function of different types of immune cells in the intestine. For example, the microbiota drives...