The Influence of Microbiota on Immune Development

In 2009, Ivoalo Ivanov in Dan Littman's lab published the first paper showing the influence of this particular bacteria on the development of mouse immune systems. In contrast to most commensal bacteria who live within the mucus, SFB bacteria are found closely associated with the epithelia. Through this closer link, mice who have SFB as part of their microbiota are able to induce a variety of antimicrobial and inflammatory genes that protect from intestinal pathogen citrobacter rodentium.