The Human Microbiome: A True Story about You and Trillions of Your Closest (Microscopic) Friends

Introduction The human microbiome is composed of the microbes, as well as their genes and genomes, that live in and on the human body. Scientists are discovering just how important these resident microbes are to our health and well-being, particularly with respect to the roles they play in maintaining our immune systems, contributing to the digestion of our food, and acting as a first line of defense against pathogens. There are many diseases that may be the result of disturbed microbiomes; however, microbiome-based medical treatments and applications are on the horizon. The human microbiome is composed of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. The Human Microbiome: Our Other Genome Throughout most of human history we have felt at war with microbes. Bubonic plague, small pox, yellow fever, and typhoid are just a few important examples of historic agents of change, while modern day infectious diseases include malaria, tuberculosis, cholera and HIV/AIDS, to name a few. The scientific study of microbiology, which led to important discoveries such as Louis Pasteur’s “germ theory of disease,” grew out of society’s desire to conquer these pathogens and eradicate infectious diseases. But a new view is emerging in which the metaphors for war (“the only good bug is a dead bug”) are no longer appropriate; instead, we now view humans and microbes as a co-evolved system for the mutual benefit of both the host and resident microbes. But if microbes...
Source: ActionBioscience - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news