The intestine is a highly complex ecosystem where many bacterial species interact with each other and host cells to influence animal physiology and susceptibility to pathogens. Genomic methods have provided a broad framework for understanding how alterations in microbial communities are associated with host physiology and infection, but the biochemical mechanisms of specific intestinal bacterial species are only emerging. In this review, we focus on recent studies that have characterized the biochemical mechanisms by which intestinal bacteria interact with other bacteria and host pathways to restrict pathogen infection. Understanding the biochemical mechanisms of intestinal microbiota function should provide new opportunities for therapeutic development towards a variety of infectious diseases.

肠道是一个高度复杂的生态系统，许多细菌种类彼此相互作用并与宿主细胞相互作用，从而影响动物的生理机能和对病原体的易感性。基因组方法为理解微生物群落的变化如何与宿主生理和感染相关提供了一个广泛的框架，但特定肠道细菌物种的生化机制才刚刚出现。在这篇综述中，我们重点关注最近的研究，这些研究描述了肠道细菌与其他细菌相互作用的生化机制以及限制病原体感染的宿主途径。了解肠道微生物群功能的生化机制应该为各种传染病的治疗开发提供新的机会。