Colonization resistance

Colonization resistance is a property of the host’s indigenous microbiota, notably in the gut, that protects against invasion and expansion of pathogenic microorganisms. The phenomenon involves both direct competitive interactions (e.g. nutrient competition, production of inhibitory substances such as bacteriocins) and indirect effects (such as stimulating host immune responses). Disruption of colonization resistance—especially due to antibiotics, illness, or altered diet—can increase susceptibility to opportunistic and drug-resistant infections. It is an emergent property of complex microbial communities and is not attributable to a single receptor, molecule, or target.

Other names

Microbiota-mediated resistanceMicrobiome colonization resistanceIntestinal colonization resistance

Antibiotics: Disrupt normal microbiota, reducing colonization resistance and increasing susceptibility to infection; Probiotics/Transplantation: Restore or enhance microbiome functionality to confer colonization resistance