Abstract
Changes in the gut microbiota composition are linked to many human diseases but cataloging bacterial species names did not provide the desired insights into how the host balances its microbial communities. Recent research shows that virulence factors of enteric pathogens weaken host functions that regulate microbial growth in the gut lumen. A weakening of these host functions explains dysbiosis during non-communicable diseases, which in turn reveals how the host maintains gut homeostasis.