Understanding mucosal responsiveness: lessons from enteric bacterial pathogens

Mucosal immune responses must discriminate between commensal from within th e lumen and potential pathogens. These responses are highly adapted to indu ce protection without excessive inflammation. The balances that regulate mu cosal immune and inflammatory responses have to be understood if effective mucosal immunity is to be induced through local immunization. This review w ill summarize some of the lessons learnt front studies of antigens derived from enteric bacterial pathogens and discuss how the gastrointestinal epith elia can 'fight back' when it encounters pathogens.