Fig. 2

Potential impact of NP ingestion on the crosstalk between the microbiota and the immune system. After ingestion, NPs interact with the gastrointestinal environment and can alter the gut microbiota, characterized by an alteration of the F/B ratio, a depletion of Lactobacillus strains and an increase in the abundance of Proteobacteria. NPs exhibit also deleterious effects on the epithelial barrier and the intestinal immune response, which can amplifies the dysbiosis in a vicious circle favouring intestinal inflammation in susceptible individuals