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. 2021 Mar;109(3):513-517.
doi: 10.1002/JLB.4RI0920-599.

Historical Perspective: Metchnikoff and the intestinal microbiome

Allan McI Mowat  1
Affiliations

Historical Perspective: Metchnikoff and the intestinal microbiome

Allan McI Mowat. J Leukoc Biol. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Metchnikoff's essay, Intestinal Bacteriotherapy, was written when the study of microbiology was still in its infancy and few intestinal diseases had been ascribed to a specific bacterial infection. Metchnikoff offered perceptive ideas that have become standard in today's science. This Historical Perspectives commentary examines how Metchnikoff's article influenced our field. An accompanying editorial by Siamon Gordon explores this topic further and describes the relevance of Metchnikoff's work to the current Covid-19 infection. We also include a translation of this fundamental article by Metchnikoff, as presented by Claudine Neyen.

Keywords: Metchnikoff; host response; intestinal disease; microbiology; microbiome; microbiota.

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Graphical abstract
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Title page of the original publication in which the essay was first published
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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