What Are Gut Bacteria?

Gut bacteria are microorganisms that naturally inhabit the digestive tract. They serve critical roles in the human body, particularly in the processes of digestion, vitamin synthesis and the synthesis of other beneficial compounds, immune regulation, and the prevention of colonization by harmful organisms. In addition to bacteria, which are most abundant, the gut is also home to archaea, fungi, viruses, and other agents. Together, these entities form the gut microbiota, the collective genetic material of...