Gut flora (also called gut microbiota) refers to bacteria and other organisms that live inside the intestines. They help digest food and produce Vitamins such as biotin and vitamin K. The gut flora also plays an important role for the immune system, but also the brain and behavior. The intestine accomodates 80% of our immune cells.
The tasks of the intestinal immune system are both to either tolerate non-pathogenic antigens in the intestine and to protect against potentially pathogenic antigens. There is a communication between innate and adaptive immune cells and the gut microbiota to balance between immune tolerance and possible inflammation. A number of diseases are caused by a disturbance in the normal balance of microbes.
