Mechanisms of Colonisation and Colonisation Resistance of the Digestive Tract

In this review we describe the most common mechanisms through which bacterial antagonisms occur in the GI-tract. These include depletion and:or competition for substrates; competition for receptor sites (competitive exclusion); generation of a restrictive physiological environment (role of pH, short-chain fatty acids, oxidation-reduction potential); and production of antimicrobial substances (bacteriocinand non bacteriocin-related). Keywords: bacterial antagonisms, competitive exclusion, pH, oxidation:reduction potential, bacteriocins, colonisation resistance.