The microbiome in chronic inflammatory airway disease : a threatened species
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Date
Authors
Green, Robin J.
Van Niekerk, Andre
Jeevarathnum, A.C.
Feldman, Charles
Richards, Guy A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health and Medical Publishing Group
Abstract
The human body is exposed to a multitude of microbes and infectious organisms throughout life. Many of these organisms colonise the
skin, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and airway. We now recognise that this colonisation includes the lower airway, previously thought to be
sterile. These colonising organisms play an important role in disease prevention, including an array of chronic inflammatory conditions that
are unrelated to infectious diseases. However, new evidence of immune dysregulation suggests that early colonisation, especially of the GIT
and airway, by pathogenic micro-organisms, has deleterious effects that may contribute to the potential to induce chronic inflammation in
young children, which may only express itself in adult life.
Description
Keywords
Disease prevention, Gastrointestinal tract (GIT), Chronic inflammation, Airway, Microbiome, Infectious organisms, Colonising organisms
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Green, RJ, Van Niekerk, A, Jeevarathnum, AC, Feldman, C & Richards, GA 2016, 'The microbiome in chronic inflammatory airway disease : a threatened species', South African Medical Journal, vol. 106, no. 8, pp. 779-781.