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The human intestine is inhabited by billions of bacteria forming a microbial metagenome that critically assists its host organism in food exploitation. To ensure efficient nutrient uptake the microbiota is separated from deeper tissue and immune cells residing in the lamina propria by an epithelial cell monolayer. This scenario poses a unique challenge to the organism, as it has to tolerate the beneficial commensal microbiota, yet rapidly mount protective immune reactions to epithelial damage or invading pathogens. Failure to maintain this exquisite balance causes in genetically predisposed individuals in chronic inflammatory bowel disorders, such as Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis.
Sponsored by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust the Weizmann Crohn & Colitis interest group uses multi-disciplinary approaches to study the triad of microflora, epithelium and immune cells in vitro and in its physiological setting, i.e. intact animals. Collectively, these efforts aim at understanding molecular mechanisms of intercellular communication that underlie homeostasis and pathogenesis at the mucosal surface.