Figure 2.

Enteric nervous system immune reflexes are mutually beneficial for the host and microbiome. Microbiome‐derived metabolites are required for healthy ENS development and function including peristalsis supplying nutrients to and disposing of waste from the microbiome community as well as benefiting the host and ultimately promoting clearance of parasite and bacterial infections by ENS‐immune reflexes (A). Sensing of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection by ENS neurons triggers innate lymphoid cells type 2 (ILC2) mediated Th2 immune response resulting in clearance of the helminth (B). Detection of Salmonella typhimurium infection by ENS leads to neuronal secretion of IL‐18 and a release of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) by epithelial cells sterilizing the epithelium as well as suppression of M‐cells differentiation thus limiting infection entry points and the induction of neuronal damage control program in muscularis macrophages via β2AR (C). The figure was created using BioRender.com.