Germ-free mice mono-associated with a single species of Bacteroides are found to be resistant to further colonization by the same, but not different, species; a unique class of polysaccharide utilization loci that is required for the penetration of the colonic mucus and colonization of the crypt channel niche is discovered that explains this observed species-specific saturable colonization.
- S. Melanie Lee
- Gregory P. Donaldson
- Sarkis K. Mazmanian