Figure 3. Proposed mechanisms of bi- and uni-directional communication from gut microbiome to various organ systems impacting child health and disease.

While the exact mechanisms of communication are yet to be understood, these are the most commonly hypothesized pathways. Communication can occur along nerve fibers, hormonal axes and via mediation of many different cytokines, bioactive amines, microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMP) and short chain fatty acids.