Many of these functions can only be achieved through a healthy, balanced and diversified microbiota. Ultimately this can have a large impact on the overall health of the host through preventing infections, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Thus, understanding the functions of the microbiota is fundamentally important when choosing therapeutics, such as antibiotics and probiotics, as they can have significant long term effects on the host. | Many of these functions can only be achieved through a healthy, balanced and diversified microbiota. Ultimately this can have a large impact on the overall health of the host through preventing infections, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Thus, understanding the functions of the microbiota is fundamentally important when choosing therapeutics, such as antibiotics and probiotics, as they can have significant long term effects on the host. |