Persistent Intracellular Extraintestinal Microbes (PIEM): The "invisible inhabitants" and "system tuners" within the human body. (IMAGE)
Caption
This schematic summarizes the Persistent intracellular extraintestinal microbes serve as a hidden regulatory layer of the human metaorganism. Conceptual framework showing how long-term microbial persistence outside classical barrier surfaces may influence host biology through tissue residency, latency/reactivation dynamics, immune calibration, metabolic rewiring, and systemic molecular signaling. The model highlights a continuum from regulated persistence to dysregulated persistence and disease contribution.
Credit
Illustrated By Dr. Cheng Wang
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License
CC BY-NC-ND