Prokaryotes
that live in animal digestive systems are known as gut flora. The functions of
the gut microbiota:
1. Inhibition of pathogens-Microorganisms
within the gut flora use of all available nutrients and thus inhibit unwelcome pathogens
that would compete for nutrients with it. Also, they secrete compounds that
kill pathogens.
2. Protection and immune system- It
have been shown that some bacterial species from the gut flora are able to
drive the immune system to create cytokines.
3. Metabolism-Thanks to microbes from the
gut flora, humans can digest some of the undigested carbohydrates it consumes, (microbes
have enzymes that human cells lack for breaking down certain polysaccharides).
