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Normal Flora and Acute Inflammation

Nature volume 210, pages 1072–1073 (1966)Cite this article

Abstract

THE indigenous microbial flora has recently been recognized as being involved in the maintenance of the resistance of the host to infection. Oral administration of non-absorbable antibiotics produces a marked reduction in the enteric flora of the animal host, which is associated with an, increased susceptibility of the host to parenteral infections1. Animals raised in the presence of a restricted gastrointestinal microflora likewise respond abnormally to experimental infections2. Animals reared in the germ-free state are also hypersusceptible to a variety of infectious agents administered by a number of different routes3–6. These findings leave no doubt that the normal flora somehow enhances the ability of the host to deal with infection, not only within the habitat of the flora, but systemically as well. The mechanism of this enhancement is obscure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

    GERALD D. ABRAMS, JOHN D. MULL & JANE E. BISHOP

Authors
  1. GERALD D. ABRAMS
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  2. JOHN D. MULL
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  3. JANE E. BISHOP
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ABRAMS, G., MULL, J. & BISHOP, J. Normal Flora and Acute Inflammation. Nature 210, 1072–1073 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/2101072a0

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