The microbial environment and its influence on asthma prevention in early life Erika von Mutius, MD, MSc Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Volume 137, Issue 3, Pages 680-689 (March 2016) DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.12.1301 Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Terms and Conditions
Fig 1 Environmental microbial exposures through siblings, day care, dogs, or farming environments can affect 3 compartments of the host (ie, the respiratory system, the gut, and/or the skin). Protective effects can be mediated through changes of the resident microbiome, which might result in the production of protective metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan, or zwitterionic polysaccharides. Alternatively or additionally, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or damage-associated-molecular patterns (DAMPs) from microbes might stimulate innate immune responses and thereby protect against asthma and allergies. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2016 137, 680-689DOI: (10.1016/j.jaci.2015.12.1301) Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Terms and Conditions