Microbiology: The new germ theory

Nature News ^ | 24 November 2010 | Lizzie Buchen

[neverdem]

micro ping

[HiTech RedNeck]

One day we may even learn what vile substance inhabits Barack Obama’s cranium.

[sinanju]

Me for a poo transplant!

But seriously, this is fascinating. I’m under the impression that this kind of work in microbial symbiosis has been done to a much greater extent in critters.

[editor-surveyor]

"Skip forward a few years, and techniques such as these have painted a far more sophisticated picture of human microbes as ubiquitous, abundant and indispensable, harvesting energy and nutrients from food, synthesizing essential amino acids, moisturizing the skin and playing an essential part in immune-system development. 'The microbiota,' as Gordon puts it, 'are bringing a series of utensils to the dining-room table that the human host doesn't have.' The picture bandied around nowadays is of humans and their microbial partners as a coevolved 'superorganism' in which each provides services for the other."

Except when antibacterial soaps are used routinely!

Antibacterials should be "Prescription Only."

[J Edgar]

Since I was a teenager, I have always thought that good hygiene is prudent, since my mother was a nurse.

However, I also thought that your immune system needs to be tried, to remain active and effective. Sorta of like exercising your muscles.
So i have come to trust my immune system, I take vitamins B, C and D specifically for the immune system benefits. I have never taken vaccines , except when I was 6 y/o and they forced polio and tetanus vaccines by government school.
I rarely get a cold, or influenza or any other kind of infectious disease.

I find this research very interesting.

[J Edgar]

Since I was a teenager, I have always thought that good hygiene is prudent, since my mother was a nurse.

However, I also thought that your immune system needs to be tried, to remain active and effective. Sorta of like exercising your muscles.
So i have come to trust my immune system, I take vitamins B, C and D specifically for the immune system benefits. I have never taken vaccines , except when I was 6 y/o and they forced polio and tetanus vaccines by government school.
I rarely get a cold, or influenza or any other kind of infectious disease.

I find this research very interesting.

[grey_whiskers]

Thanks, will read over the weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Irenic]

.

[El Gato]

However, I also thought that your immune system needs to be tried, to remain active and effective. Sorta of like exercising your muscles. So i have come to trust my immune system, I take vitamins B, C and D specifically for the immune system benefits. I have never taken vaccines

What a vaccine does is try your immune system. Gives it a look at the virus so it can build antibodies to it. Apparently it's the additives and preservatives that cause most of the problems.

[VanShuyten]

A good article that shows that changes in bacterial flora are as important as which bacteria are present at any given time.

[zeestephen]

Terrific post, neverdem.

Read through it twice.

I've had bits and pieces of this in my mind for a long time.

Your article built a coherent picture for me.

The “Human Microbiota.”

A slam dunk competitor for “Best Phrase of 2010.”

[Enchante]

ah, food for thought as we pull up to the Thanksgiving dinner table.... we are each communities of microbes and the complexities of what will be going on in each human digestive tract today are staggering

[aruanan]

There are several times more living organisms in one bowel movement than there are human cells in your entire body.

[bert]

.....moisturizing the skin ......

There’s the money ap.

P&G will market Oil of Olay with moisturizing micro biota.

The hydrolyzing microbiots are truly natural skin moisturizers that make moisture in situ. It lasts 18 hours, yada yada, yada

[bert]

Add to the list.....drink the water from sources other than plastic bottles

[djf]

Cooties!!!

;-)
Thanks. Interesting.

[Mr Rogers]

Very interesting. Thanks for the post.

[facedown]

One “minor” quibble - you can’t have a negative pH.

[neverdem]

One “minor” quibble - you can’t have a negative pH.

I had the same thought. I think it was intended as a spacebar or dash, IMHO, and that it was written by a biology major if I had to guess.