Specificity of secretory IgA and their impact on gut microbiota composition and host immunity. – METAntibody

Man has developed spectacular ways to protect himself from pathogens, while benefitting from unique and essential features of symbionts. Of note, bacteria acting as symbionts in one clinical setting may act as pathogens in another. Such bacteria are increasingly being referred to as “Pathobionts”. Control of pathobionts is partly orchestrated by specific secretory IgA (sIgA) responses. Here we propose to study the composition of sIgA bound gut microbiota in healthy individuals and evaluate alterations of this bacterial consortium in IgA deficient patients. Identification of pathobionts may serve as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in patients with immunopathologies associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, such as inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and IgA deficiency.