WikiBiomeThe human microbiome encyclopediaRanked matches across titles, topics, categories, and article introductions.
Autoimmunity occurs when the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. What has emerged over the past two decades is that the gut microbiome is not merely associated with autoimmune disease -- it is a mechanistic driver of immune tolerance breakdown. Metals add a se…
Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) -- hashimotos thyroiditis and graves disease -- are the most common organ-specific autoimmune conditions, affecting 5-10% of the global population. The thyroid gland sits at a remarkable intersection of metal biology and immune regula…
A Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic genus within the lachnospiraceae family (Firmicutes phylum). Dorea occupies a mixed role in the gut ecosystem -- while it is a core member of the healthy human microbiome, several species are consistently enriched in autoimmune and ne…
Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune thyroid disorder characterized by TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) that stimulate the thyroid gland, causing hyperthyroidism kahaly 2022 graves disease targeted therapy review. It is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, with conc…
The gut-thyroid axis describes the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the thyroid gland. The thyroid regulates metabolism, energy homeostasis, and immune function -- and the microbiome influences thyroid physiology at every level: mineral absorpt…
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most common autoimmune disease globally and the leading cause of hypothyroidism. Chronic lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland progressively destroys follicular architecture, reducing thyroid hormone output. Prevalence is 5-10…
Interleukin-17 (primarily IL-17A and IL-17F) is the signature cytokine of Th17 cells. At physiological levels, IL-17 maintains mucosal barrier defense by recruiting neutrophils and inducing antimicrobial peptide production. At pathological levels (Th17/Treg imbalance), …
The immune system is not a monolith but a dynamic equilibrium between pro-inflammatory effector responses (Th1, Th2, Th17) and anti-inflammatory regulatory responses (Treg, IL-10, TGF-beta). Metals and the microbiome are two of the most potent environmental modulators o…
A Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic genus within the Firmicutes phylum (family Oscillospiraceae or Ruminococcaceae depending on classification) that possesses a unique metabolic capability: butyrate production from lysine fermentation rather than from dietary fiber. Thi…
An essential halogen required for thyroid hormone synthesis (T3 and T4). The thyroid gland is the primary iodine-concentrating organ, containing 70-80% of total body iodine. Iodine occupies a unique position in the metallomics landscape: it is not a metal, but its inter…
Early-life supplementation with L. rhamnosus GG (LGG) before 27 days of age reduced the risk of beta-cell autoimmunity in genetically at-risk infants, as demonstrated in the TEDDY study (The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young).
An essential macromineral required as a cofactor for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including energy metabolism, protein synthesis, DNA/RNA stability, and neuromuscular function. Magnesium is not a heavy metal or trace element but is frequently measured along…
Molecular mimicry occurs when microbial antigens share structural similarity with host proteins, triggering cross-reactive immune responses that attack host tissue. It is a primary mechanism linking infections and dysbiosis to autoimmune disease — the immune system corr…
The oral microbiome is the second most complex microbial community in the human body after the gut, harboring ~700 species across distinct niches (tongue, buccal mucosa, gingival crevice, saliva, dental plaque). While traditionally studied in the context of dental disea…
An essential trace element that is primarily protective in its biological roles. Unlike most metals in this wiki, selenium's toxicological significance lies more in the consequences of its deficiency than its excess. Selenium is the backbone of the selenoproteome -- a f…
Research summary -- not medical advice. This page synthesizes published research on why broad-spectrum antibiotics may worsen gut dysbiosis rather than correct it. This does NOT apply to life-threatening infections requiring antibiotic treatment. Consult a qualified hea…
The Th17/Treg balance is the immunological equilibrium between pro-inflammatory T helper 17 (Th17) cells and anti-inflammatory regulatory T (Treg) cells. This balance is the master switch between immune tolerance and autoimmune/inflammatory pathology — and the gut micro…
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which immune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans leads to lifelong insulin dependence. T1D is fundamentally distinct from type 2 diabetes, which is characterized by insul…
A family of Gram-negative, obligate anaerobic bacteria within the Firmicutes phylum (class Negativicutes) that occupies a unique metabolic niche as specialized lactate utilizers. Veillonellaceae cannot ferment sugars directly -- instead, they cross-feed on lactate produ…