Learning to tolerate our microbial self
Thursday, April 21, 2011 - 14:30
in Health & Medicine
The human gut is filled with 100 trillion symbiotic bacteria which we blissfully live with, although they have many features similar to infectious bacteria we react against. What decides whether we ignore -- or fight? In the case of a common "friendly" gut bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis, researchers have discovered the surprising answer: The decision is not made by us, but by the bacteria, who co-opt cells of the immune system for our benefit ... and theirs.