Dialogue of the Microbiota with the Host Immune System: Implications for Inflammatory Disease and Autism
Presidential Lectures are free public colloquia centered on four main themes: Biology, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Neuroscience and Autism Science. These curated, high-level scientific talks feature leading scientists and mathematicians and are intended to foster discourse and drive discovery among the broader NYC-area research community. We invite those interested in the topic to join us for this weekly lecture series.
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Our immune system is heavily influenced by commensal microbiota — the microbes that reside within us. In the intestine, specific microbes induce pro- or anti-inflammatory white blood cells called lymphocytes that maintain a healthy homeostasis. An imbalance in microbiota can result in dysregulated T cells that contribute to autoimmunity and, potentially, to autism.
In this lecture, Dan Littman will describe how intestinal commensal bacteria shape functions of immune system cells that prevent invasion by pathogenic microbes but can also contribute to systemic inflammation. Th17 cells, which participate in multiple autoimmune diseases, are regulated by the microbiota. These cells also have a key pathogenic role in the maternal immune activation (MIA) model of autism, which posits that the prenatal environment and activation of the maternal immune system may contribute to autism. Activation of the pregnant mother’s innate immune response may result in lifelong behavioral defects in the offspring. Littman will discuss implications for preventing or treating autism.
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