Microorganisms and Mutualism
Both good and bad bacteria exist in the large intestine.
Bacteria in Large Intestines
An astounding number of mutualistic relationships occur between multicellular organisms and microorganisms. Termites are only able to eat wood because they have mutualistic protozoans and bacteria in their gut that helps them digest cellulose. Inside our own bodies, there are hundreds of different types of bacteria that live just in our large intestine. Most of these are uncharacterized, but we do know a lot about E. coli, which is one of the normal bacteria found in all human large intestines. Humans provide E. coli with food and a place to live. In return, the E. coli produce vitamin K and make it harder for pathogenic bacteria to establish themselves in our large intestine. Whether or not most of the other species of bacteria found in our digestive tract aid in digestion, absorption, or vitamin production isn't completely known, but they all make it harder for invasive pathogens to establish a foothold inside us and cause disease.