Gut Health and the Immune Response

Gut dysbiosis enhances the aggressiveness of viral lung disease. This is well known for the influenza virus and could be the same for coronavirus.

– Francesco Di Pierro, PhD

Much of the body’s immune response depends on the microbiome, and understanding its complexities and potential therapeutic targets is even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic. At IFM’s 2020 Annual International Conference (AIC) online experience, expert researchers and clinicians will outline advances and new perspectives regarding the microbiome and its essential role in supporting health during the pandemic and beyond. From pediatric to ecological considerations, the microbiome will be a primary topic in several AIC presentations that address the restoration, strength, and resilience of health in individuals and populations:

Immune system integrity and the gut microbiome

Microbial communities essential for growth, health, and survival exist across the planet, from soil microbiomes to the commensal microbiota in our guts. Studies show that the maintenance of a healthy gut microbiome is in fact inseparable from host health.¹ Supporting a balanced intestinal microbial community is essential for the integrity of the immune system, for the prevention and response to infections, and for recovery from illness.

The immune system, which is primarily in the gut, is influenced and actually taught by the gut microbiome.