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They identified an array of cell types unique to this maternal–fetal interface, and inferred the existence of a large network of potential interactions between them that would favour immunological tolerance and nurture the growth of the fetus.

However, this immunological tolerance might come at a cost.

Novakovic, B. et al. β-Glucan reverses the epigenetic state of LPS-induced immunological tolerance.

Second, abnormal microbial development during maturation of the innate immune system results in a failure to induce immunological tolerance, which then leads to exacerbated autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders later in life.

Historically, Velasquez-Manoff explains, the transfer of saliva from parents to infants was a key mechanism for exposing young babies to EBV during the optimal window of immunological tolerance: that is, before age 2.