Bacteria from the Bacteroides genus

Bacteroides bacteria play crucial roles in the human gut microbiota. These rod-shaped bacteria thrive in oxygen-free environments, like the human and animal intestinal tracts. Here, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Bacteroides vulgatus improve the health of the gut by breaking down complex carbohydrates, helping the gut absorb nutrients from food and strengthening the immune system. While Bacteroides bacteria are generally beneficial, some species can act as opportunistic pathogens under certain conditions.

How bacteria in your gut microbiome defend pathogens

Bacteria in your gut microbiome help you digest your food, strengthen your immune system and keep you healthy. For this, your gut bacteria keep you free from gut pathogenic bacteria by fighting them with different weapons. Here, we explore some ways gut bacteria defend pathogens and how you can help them protect you.

You are what you eat: Gut bacteria share plant leftovers

When we eat plant products, we cannot always digest all their components. Instead, our gut bacteria love plant ploymers and start degrading and digesting them. And they share the leftover food with other bacteria, so that all of them together produce some very healthy molecules for us.