Digestive System Host Defense, Microbial Interactions and Immune and Inflammatory Diseases – DHMI

Topics

• GI mucosal immunology including both innate and adaptive immunity, lymphocytes and myeloid cells, IgA and secretory immunity.
• Host-microbe interactions in the GI tract including commensal, pathogenic and microbial community interactions, maintenance of barrier function.
• Intestinal infections, including parasitic and viral host responses in the GI system.
• Inflammatory bowel diseases including celiac and Crohn’s disease, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), C. difficile, eosinophilic esophagitis.
• Nutritional immunology including the use of pre- and pro-biotics in the treatment of inflammatory digestive diseases.
• Pre-neoplasia as a consequence of chronic GI infection or inflammation (e.g. colitis or H. pylori).
• Regulation of gene expression as it relates to inflammatory processes, mucosal defense or repair.

Shared Interests and Overlaps

There are shared interests with Digestive and Nutrient Physiology and Diseases (DNPD). Studies involving GI epithelial cell biology, GI dysplasia and pre-neoplasia may be reviewed in DNPD, while studies focused on the mucosal layer, mucosal immunology or inflammatory processes may be reviewed here.

Studies which focus on basic aspects of mucosal immunology are best reviewed by the Infections Diseases and Immunology A (IDIA) or Infectious Diseases and Immunology B (IDIB) IRGs, while studies that focus on inflammatory processes within the GI tract may be reviewed here.

There are shared interests with Interspecies Microbial Interactions and Infections (IMII) in the area of microbial interactions in the gut, including pathogens and the microbiome. Applications focused largely on the microbe(s) may be reviewed in IMII. Applications that focus on gut physiology may be reviewed in DHMI.

There are shared interests with Adaptive Immunity (AI), Innate Immunity A (IIDA (81)), and Innate Immunity B (IIB). Applications with a greater focus on fundamental aspects of the adaptive immune response or innate immune response may be reviewed in AI or IIDA (81)/IIB, respectively. Applications addressing impacts of the adaptive or innate immune system on the function and pathology relevant to diseases or disorders of the digestive system may be reviewed in DHMI.

There are shared interests with Immune Mechanisms of Hypersensitivity and Allergy (IMHA) in the immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract. Applications studying immune cells, immune mechanisms and/or responses, either innate or adaptive, in the context of hypersensitivities and allergic diseases in the gastrointestinal tract, e.g., eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders or food allergies, may be reviewed in IMHA. Applications emphasizing non-allergic responses in the context of acute and chronic gastrointestinal conditions, such as celiac disease, gastritis, or necrotizing enterocolitis may be reviewed by DHMI.