• Kathy D McCoy and Yasmin Köller.
• Mucosal Immunology Lab, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: mccoy@dkf.unibe.ch.
• Clin. Immunol. 2015 Aug 1; 159 (2): 170-6.

AbstractThe increase in allergic diseases over the past several decades is correlated with changes in the composition and diversity of the intestinal microbiota. Microbial-derived signals are critical for instructing the developing immune system and conversely, immune regulation can impact the microbiota. Perturbations in the microbiota composition may be especially important during early-life when the immune system is still developing, resulting in a critical window of opportunity for instructing the immune system. This review highlights recent studies investigating the role of the microbiome in susceptibility or development of allergic diseases with a focus on animal models that provide insight into the mechanisms and pathways involved. Identification of a causal link between reduced microbial diversity or altered microbial composition and increased susceptibility to immune-mediated diseases will hopefully pave the way for better preventive therapies.Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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