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Review
. 2017 Nov;42(11):887-898.
doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2017.08.005. Epub 2017 Sep 17.

Biochemical Mechanisms of Pathogen Restriction by Intestinal Bacteria

Kavita J Rangan  1 , Howard C Hang  2
Affiliations
Review

Biochemical Mechanisms of Pathogen Restriction by Intestinal Bacteria

Kavita J Rangan et al. Trends Biochem Sci. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

The intestine is a highly complex ecosystem where many bacterial species interact with each other and host cells to influence animal physiology and susceptibility to pathogens. Genomic methods have provided a broad framework for understanding how alterations in microbial communities are associated with host physiology and infection, but the biochemical mechanisms of specific intestinal bacterial species are only emerging. In this review, we focus on recent studies that have characterized the biochemical mechanisms by which intestinal bacteria interact with other bacteria and host pathways to restrict pathogen infection. Understanding the biochemical mechanisms of intestinal microbiota function should provide new opportunities for therapeutic development towards a variety of infectious diseases.

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