Regulatory functions and mechanisms of human microbiota in infectious diseases
Yingxu Fang,
Zehui Lei,
Lingqiang Zhang,
Cui Hua Liu,
Qiyao Chai
Affiliations
Yingxu Fang
CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Zehui Lei
CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Lingqiang Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China; Correspondence:
Cui Hua Liu
CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Correspondence:
Qiyao Chai
CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Correspondence:
The human microbiota, a diverse community of microorganisms living on or within their hosts, play an irreplaceable role in maintaining human health. Dysbiosis of the microbiota is associated with the pathogenesis of diverse human diseases. In recent years, growing evidence has been presented to support the substantial effect of human microbiota on the progression of infectious diseases. In this review, we describe the functional role of human microbiota in infectious diseases by highlighting their Janus-faced effects in the regulation of acute and chronic infections as well as their related co-morbidities. Thereafter, we review the latest advances elucidating the mechanisms underlying tri-directional interactions between the microbiota, hosts, and invading pathogens, with a further discussion on external environmental factors that shape this interconnected regulatory network. A better understanding of the regulatory functions and mechanisms of human microbiota in infectious diseases will facilitate the development of new diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic approaches for infectious diseases.
