The indispensable ones - microbes, the body's hidden helpers

We are many and have at least as many bacterial cells as our own cells in our body. What do we know about the role that microbes play for humans and animals? Thomas Bosch, an evolutionary and developmental biologist and expert in microbiome research, reflects on the wealth of research findings and his own studies regarding this question. We are encouraged to consider the significance of the microbiome in a holistic approach when thinking about the rising number of "lifestyle" diseases. We are many, and we have always been many, even in the course of evolution. Without microbes, we cannot develop normally and we become ill. How we live and eat has a strong influence on microorganisms. This understanding also includes the perspective that by intervening in the microbiome, we can maintain our health. The complexity of microbiome research can be difficult to digest as a compact narrative. This book makes it accessible.