Most people have already experienced first-hand how important a healthy microbiome is when they had to take a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Unfortunately, the drug does not only destroy the pathogens. It also affects the ‘good’ bacteria in the bowel that otherwise occupy the most important niches and help fend off pathogens. This protective mechanism is called colonization resistance. But which bacterial species are ‘good’, or ‘commensal’ in technical terms, and how can they protect against colonization, i.e. how can they prevent pathogens from settling? Prof. Till Strowig, HZI, and Prof. Bärbel Stecher, LMU München, decided to take a closer look at these questions.
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Source: Phys.org