20 Aug 2015 Blackmores Institute How beneficial bacteria protect intestinal cells 20 Aug 2015 Share Share on LinkedIn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Pinterest News Research on beneficial intestinal bacteria in the microbiome is moving from "what is there" to "how they help." Scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have shown how an ancient cellular regulatory circuit called Nrf2, present in both insects and mammals, responds to beneficial bacteria and gears up a protective response to environmental stresses. × To continue reading this article, please Log In or Sign Up for access.