letter to the editor: role of gut microbiota and infectious burden in the development of autoimmune and allergic diseases

The human gut is the natural niche to an enormous and complex community of commensal bacteria of more than 1000 different species. because of intimate relation between gut microbiota and host immune system, gut microbiota effectively modulate the development of both the innate and adaptive immune system. several scientists have worked in this field and linked some members of the gut microbiota to autoimmune diseases. so far, significant attention has been given on the role of gut microbiota in gastrointestinal tract related autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (ibd).