99th Dahlem Conference on Infection, Inflammation and Chronic Inflammatory Disorders: Psycho-neuroimmunology and the intestinal microbiota: clinical observations and basic mechanisms

This is a rapidly emerging field. The application of knowledge regarding the relationship between neural and immune systems in order to gain a better understanding of human conditions has been slow. In this discussion we describe how the brain and microbiota interact, and try to bring this into a context that is clinically relevant. We begin by describing established facts pertaining to the gut-brain axis and the role of gut bacteria. We then focus upon emerging data that will contribute to the generation of a new conceptual framework about the microbiota-gut-brain axis. In the final section we anticipate future directions of this field.