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. 2019 Feb 21;15(2):e1007563.
doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007563. eCollection 2019 Feb.

The founder hypothesis: A basis for microbiota resistance, diversity in taxa carriage, and colonization resistance against pathogens

Yael Litvak  1 , Andreas J Bäumler  1
Affiliations

The founder hypothesis: A basis for microbiota resistance, diversity in taxa carriage, and colonization resistance against pathogens

Yael Litvak et al. PLoS Pathog. .
No abstract available

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. The founder hypothesis.
The principles of the founder hypothesis are shown schematically for a single nutrient-niche. Stochastic effects governing microbial exposure during infancy determine which microbial species (red or blue rods) establishes residency in the nutrient-niche, thereby generating diversity in taxa carriage between individuals. The founding occupant gains priority access to the growth-limiting resource that defines its nutrient-niche. These priority effects enable the occupant to confer colonization resistance against environmental exposure to microorganisms that are suitable contenders for the same nutrient-niche. The resulting resistance to stress imposed through environmental exposure to microorganisms produces microbiota resistance.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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