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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Apr 7.
Published in final edited form as: Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2020 Sep 24;176:1–42. doi: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.08.013

Figure 2. Ecologically relevant spatial gradients across the gastrointestinal tract.

Figure 2.

Rostrally to caudally throughout the gastrointestinal tract, a variety of physiological and biochemical features vary in accordance with the distinct digestive, absorptive, defensive, and endocrinological functional roles of each region. These factors, including oxygen level, pH, mucus thickness, antimicrobial production, bile acid production, and transit time, in turn impact the structure and function of regional microbial community membership.