The Entner-Douderoff pathway is an alternative to the Embden-Meyerhoff-Parnas pathway that allows breakdown of sugar acid substrates and allows gut microbiome members to feed on secreted mucus with such acids in the intestine. This is beneficial because the:
a) microbes stimulate the immune system and prevent pathogens from colonizing.
b) mucus increases the rate of digestion.
c) microbes induce the production of enzymes by the intestine.
d) additional mucus prevents the formation of ulcers