The Role of the Microbiome in the Resolution of Infection-Induced Inflammation
October 2025
in “
ACS Infectious Diseases
”
TLDR The microbiome helps reduce inflammation after infections, but how it does this is not fully understood.
The microbiome plays a critical role in protecting against infections by competing with pathogens, coordinating host defenses, and educating immune cells. However, excessive inflammation from immune responses can lead to chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Disruptions in the microbiome can worsen infection-related inflammation and pathology. Although links between microbes, inflammation, and infection susceptibility are known, the detailed mechanisms of how the microbiome helps resolve inflammation postinfection are not fully understood. This review explores the microbiome's role in resolving inflammation and tissue damage after infection and its potential implications for developing therapies for infection-induced inflammatory diseases.