Oral immunity, dysbiosis and autoimmune pathogenesis

Autoimmune diseases are multifactorial pathologies with ill-defined pathogenic mechanisms that afflict predominantly females. Innate and adaptive immunity, intestinal dysbiosis and diet impact on autoimmune pathogenesis. We will test the hypothesis that oral immunity is the predictor for autoimmunity independent of dietary impacts and other confounding. We will also test if oral immunity affects gut permeability which precedes autoimmunity, thus giving longitudinal effects.