Nutritional immunology: a multi-dimensional approach

Diet affects host nutritional state and immune status, both of which interact with microbial symbionts, commensals, and pathogens to affect the fitness of all partners. Because nutrient feedbacks modulate host feeding behaviour, the potential exists for the host to adjust its diet to optimise its microbial interactions and increase resistance to infection. [...]hosts could be offered the opportunity to express nutritional self-medication in experimental designs in which they are offered a choice of nutritionally complementary foods [45].