In the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that a gut full of friendly microbes (the microbiome) is vital for our good health. It has also become clear that a healthy microbiome is one with a diverse population of microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi). What we haven’t known is why a diverse array of friendly bugs is important for keeping the harmful microbes (pathogens) at bay. But now we think we have found the answer.
Our latest study, published in Science, shows that the main reason a diverse microbiome is helpful for resisting pathogens is that the friendly microbes collectively consume the nutrients needed for a pathogen to grow in the gut.
