the completed self an immunological view of the human-microbiome superorganism and risk of chronic diseases完成自我的免疫学视图人类微生物超个体和慢性疾病的风险.pdf

Entropy 2012, 14, 2036-2065; doi:10.3390/ OPEN ACCESS entropy ISSN 1099-4300 /journal/entropy Review The Completed Self: An Immunological View of the Human- Microbiome Superorganism and Risk of Chronic Diseases Rodney Dietert 1,* and Janice Dietert 2 1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA 2 Performance Plus Consulting, Lansing, NY 14882, USA; E-Mail: sonofstar@ (J.D.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: rrd1@; Tel.: +1-607-253-4015; Fax: +1-607-253-3384. Received: 13 September 2012; in revised form: 18 October 2012 / Accepted: 19 October 2012 / Published: 25 October 2012 Abstract: In this review, we discuss an immunological-driven sign termed the Completed Self, which is related to a holistic determination of health vs. disease. This sign (human plus commensal microbiota) forms the human superorganism. The worldwide emergence of an epidemic of chronic diseases has caused increased healthcare costs, increased premature mortality and reduced quality of life for a majority of the world’s population. In addition, it has raised questions concerning the interactions between humans and their environment and potential imbalances. Misregulated inflammation, a host defense- homeostasis disorder, appears to be a key biomarker connecting a majority of chronic diseases. We consider the