According to a new study intestinal bacteria play an important role in the development of white blood cells (leukocytes) that are associated with the immune system and the basic unit to fight infections that affect the body.

The human body is home to thousands of species of microbes, which under certain conditions can cause disease, but also have a number of benefits to our health qualities.

The highest concentration and the greatest diversity of bacterial species these sows findeth in the gastrointestinal tract and in particular in the colon.

A team from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, led by Sarkis Mazmanian, a professor of biology and biological engineering, has conducted research on this area of the human body.

Their work with mice has led to many discoveries about the importance of intestinal bacteria for health.

For example, in 2013, the team reported the relationship between microbes and autism, as well as their impact on the development of multiple sclerosis.

In a recent study published in the journal Cell Host & microbe, researchers describe their discovery that the beneficial intestinal bacteria play a key role in the development of innate immune cells - macrophages, monocytes and neutrophils - special white blood cells that provide the first line of defense against invading pathogens.

When the team comparing the number of white blood cells in these areas in mice born without intestinal bacteria - known as " non -microbial " mice and normal mice with normal colonic fluorines, they found that non - microbial mice had fewer white blood cells.

The team tested the ability of mice to combat infections by exposing them to a mono-cytogenetic bacterium Listeria.