Starting at birth and continuing through the life span, we live in harmony with the bacteria and other microorganisms we host in our gut – a dynamic collection called the gut microbiota.

These hundreds of trillions of bacteria are crucial for our health. They play a key role in important body functions, from keeping the digestive system running to helping the immune system defend against intruders like disease-causing viruses.

But sometimes, the gut microbiota can be disturbed: a situation that scientists call “dysbiosis”.

 

References:

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