"Microbes’ effect on health explored" by Rob Stein Washington Post / October 16, 2011
WASHINGTON - This isn’t the latest Hollywood horror flick, or some secret genetic engineering experiment run amok. The human cells that form our skin, eyes, ears, brain and every other part of our bodies are far outnumbered by those from microbes, primarily bacteria but also viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms.
This, it turns out, is nature’s way. A growing body of evidence indicates that the microbial ecosystems that have long populated our mouths, noses, intestines, and every other nook and cranny play crucial roles in keeping us healthy.
Moreover, researchers are becoming more convinced that modern trends - diet, antibiotics, obsession with cleanliness, Caesarean delivery of babies - are disrupting this delicate balance, contributing to some of the most perplexing ailments, including asthma, allergies, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and perhaps even autism....
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