Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals is divided into sections that have different functions (Figure 3.1). The different regions of the gastrointestinal tract represent very different environments for the bacteria inhabiting the gut. These different regions are characterized by differences in pH, secretion of enzymes, moisture, temperature and presence or absence of villi on the intestinal surface. It is now known that different species of bacteria reside in different regions of the gut, and a species occupies a particular region in order to meet its nutritional and environmental requirements (Ewing and Cole, 1994). The bacterial flora of the GIT represents an ecosystem of high complexity, the understanding of which is very limited (Berg, 1996).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Antagonistic Activity and Interaction of Probiotic Bacteria with Intestinal Microbiota |
| Editors | Sameer M. Dixit, Kasipathy Kailasapathy |
| Place of Publication | U.S.A. |
| Publisher | Nova Science |
| Pages | 77-99 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781613247839 |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Keywords
- gastrointestinal system
- intestines
- microbiology
- probiotics