Keeping unhealthy genes in check
Bacteria prevent infections
Digestion is not the only work bacteria do inside the gut. They can prevent infection and train the animal’s immune system.
To survive inside the alimentary canal both friendly and pathogenic bacteria need to bind very tightly to its surface. Many studies have demonstrated that pathogens can’t cause a disease, if they lose the ability to fasten to the surface of the host. In a healthy animal friendly microflora cover the surface of the gut like a film, and pathogens cannot get enough free space to attach and cause the infection.
An aid to the immune system
Native bacteria also produce antibiotic-like compounds, which simply kill pathogens or make them weaker. Friendly bacteria aid the immune system in recognizing pathogens and train troops of lymphocytes to fight the invaders. After training in the gut surface lymphocytes can migrate to the lung and other organs, where they reside for a few weeks.
So, the gut is the place where the defence forces of an animal organism get training, and good bacteria are used as partners in sparring.
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