This study identifies Clostridia as a really strong inducer." If these results are representative of the human microbiome's effects on immunity, researchers might one day be able to manipulate the gut microbiota for therapeutic purposes, Forsythe added. Certain species ofClostridium are less abundant in IBD patients than healthy controls, for example, suggesting a role for the bacteria in healthy digestion. Furthermore, "your Treg response has been shown to be very important in allergy and asthma and a lot of chronic disease states, so it could be critically important that you have enough of these organisms and others to maintain this proper microbial balance, which then contributes to a proper immunological balance," said immunologist Liam O'Mahony of the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research, who did not participate in the research.