The main function of the Microbiome Team is to explore the role of dysbiosis of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of AA in humans and mouse models. We explore the alterations in the gut resident microbiota of susceptible individuals and in mouse models using 16s sequencing. We also study the 'leaky gut' phenotype since loss of integrity of the intestinal epithelium plays a key pathogenic role in autoimmune diseases.