Recent data demonstrated that microbiota plays a pivotal role in orchestrating the immune response in gut mucosa and in regulating the balance between pro- and anti-inflammation factors. So, we would focus on the composition of microbiota and how it interacts with the innate immune system in the development of gastrointestinal pathology.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the interactions between innate immunity and microbiota in gastrointestinal homeostasis and pathologies.

We contact you for your large expertise in these fields: immunology and Gastrointestinal Pathology. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Innate immunity in humans: a focus on the gastrointestinal duct
• The role of gut microflora in the composition of the microbiota and its physiopathologic interactions with pathogens
• Development of the gut microbiota: the role of environmental factors
• Initial interactions between innate immunity and microbiota: in utero to first years of life
• Interactions between innate immunity and microbiota: steady state in adults
• Microbiota modulation as a tool to influence innate immunity
• Innate immunity modulation as a tool to influence microbiota
• Microbial-induced inflammatory processes and lymphocyte differentiation
• Innate immunity, cytokines, and gut microflora in the composition of intestinal immunological niche
• TLR in the sensing and response to gut microbiota
• TLRs ligands and gut DC maturation
• Innate immunity and microbiota in gastrointestinal diseases:
  • Intestinal inflammation
  • Inflammatory bowel diseases: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
  • Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  • Metabolic hepatitis: alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Cancer
  • Recurrent C. difficile colitis
  • Microbiota, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome
• Impact of microbiota modulation on induction/regulation of inflammatory responses in other target tissues outside the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., pancreas, lung, and brain)
• Mouse and human microbiota: lessons and perspectives
• Selective modulation of microbiota as a treatment for inflammatory disorders

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jir/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/jir/iiim/ according to the following timetable: