Effect of soil exposure on mouse gut microbiota and immune tolerance. mouse gut metagenome

Sufficient exposure to natural environments, in particular soil and its microbes, has been suggested to be protective against allergies. In this study, the gut microbiota and immune status of mice exposed to soil was examined in both a steady state situation and during allergic inflammation. The microbiota in the feces, ileum and jejunum was characterized by bacterial 16S rRNA seuqencing. Immune parameters were measures in the gut mucosa, lung tissue and serum samples.