Dr. Santos Two biological super systems, the immune and the nervous systems, are responsible for the maintenance of a dynamic equilibrium that guarantees the normal functioning of our organism. For that purpose, hundreds of chemical messengers such as hormones, peptides and neurotransmitters are released to relate and communicate with the third super system of the body, the intestinal flora.

The gastrointestinal system with a surface area of about 400 square meters holds 80% of the immune cells, 100 million enteric neurons and an enormous diversity of bacteria, ~800 species, 7000 subspecies, protozoa, fungi, virus and bacteriophages. The combined number of genes of this huge bacterial mass exceeds by at least 100-fold the sum of genes contained in all of our somatic and germinal cells together. Some species, the so-called bacterial probiotics, may benefit host health collaborating in the digestive process, favouring detoxification, promoting the release of protective factors and stimulating the release of natural antibiotics such as antimicrobial peptides.

Healthy individuals submitted to daily life stressors or gastrointestinal infections seem to be predisposed to develop intestinal neuro-immune dysregulation. This situation may alter intestinal ecology (dysbiosis) facilitating the generation of micro-inflammation and chronic disorders. These disorders, more and more frequent, may involve not only the gastrointestinal system but also others such as the skin or locomotor systems.

Investigation is the clue to treat and prevent these disequilibrium-related disorders and to promote gut as well as global health.


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