Microbes may play crucial role in human health.

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Microbes may play crucial role in human health.

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/microbes-may-play-crucial\

-role-in-human-health-researchers-discovering/2011/09/24/gIQAH5lFYL_story.html>

By Rob Stein Washington Post 10 October 2011

The average person’s body contains about 100 trillion cells, but only

maybe one in 10 is human. A growing body of evidence indicates that the

microbial ecosystems that have long populated our guts, mouths, noses

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.