Umesaki Y, Setoyama H
Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research, Yaho 1796, Kunitachi, Tokyo 186-8650, Japan.
Microbes Infect. 2000 Sep;2(11):1343-51. doi: 10.1016/s1286-4579(00)01288-0.
The intestinal flora comprising indigenous, autochthonous bacteria is constantly present in the alimentary tract of host animals, including humans. The indigenous bacteria greatly affect the structure and functions of the intestinal mucosa. Studies involving gnotobiotic mice or rats have shown that the presence of limited kinds of intestinal bacteria is responsible for the development of the gut immune system, such as secretory IgA, major histocompatibility complex molecules and intraepithelial lymphocytes. Understanding of the structure of the intestinal flora or the organization of the microbial population in the intestine, based on evaluation of the immunological responses, may clarify its functions in the host animal.
由本土、原生细菌组成的肠道菌群始终存在于包括人类在内的宿主动物的消化道中。本土细菌极大地影响肠道黏膜的结构和功能。涉及无菌小鼠或大鼠的研究表明，有限种类的肠道细菌的存在对肠道免疫系统的发育负责，如分泌型免疫球蛋白A、主要组织相容性复合体分子和上皮内淋巴细胞。基于对免疫反应的评估来了解肠道菌群的结构或肠道中微生物群落的组织，可能会阐明其在宿主动物中的功能。
