Question

There are good bacteria that live in our gut. They benefit from us because they feed on what we eat, and we benefit from them because they keep harmful bacteria away. In one or two sentences, define this relationship and describe what could happen if we took too many bacteria-killing antibiotics without the advice of a physician.(2 points)

Answer 1

This is mutualism: both you and the gut bacteria benefit from each other. If you take too many bactericidal antibiotics without medical advice you can kill off beneficial gut microbes, causing dysbiosis that can lead to antibiotic‑associated diarrhea, overgrowth of harmful organisms (for example Clostridioides difficile), reduced colonization resistance, and nutrient or immune‑related problems.