Immunology and Cell Biology

Mucosal immunology

Mucosal surfaces are home to a vast array of microorganisms, referred to as the microbiome. Recent advances in next generation sequencing have enabled identification of the microbial and genomic universe of microbes that inhabit the human body. These studies are likely to be of major importance in enhancing our understanding of how mucosal immune responses are initiated and regulated in both health and disease. New insights will most certainly translate into the development of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies for mucosal disorders. At birth, the neonate's mucosal immune system is relatively undeveloped, but the colonization of intestinal flora accelerates its development.