Quest for bacterial cocktails to fight infections

The intestines of a healthy person contains hundreds of different bacteria that provide efficient protection against infections. However, if the equilibrium of this community, known as the microbiota, is disturbed -- for example, due to antibiotic therapy -- pathogens such as salmonella or multiresistant hospital germs such as Klebsiella pneumoniae can gain the upper hand -- sometimes with severe consequences for those affected. Scientists have been researching the interaction of intestinal bacteria and have recently identified bacterial strains that play a special role in two studies.