
Theextinctionofhealthybacteriainourbodiescouldescalateanewglobalhealthcrisis.Thegoodnews:thefield’stoptwoscientistsareonthecase,examiningtheimpactmicrobiomeshaveonourwellbeing. Biodiversityisalsoaboutwhatgoesoninsideourownbodies.Overhalfacentury,halftheworld’smicrobeshavedisappearedasdiseasessuchasasthma,allergies,obesityanddiabeteshaveproliferated.Istherealink?Overuseofantibiotics,processedfoodsandsterileenvironmentshaveputthebalanceofourinsidesunderpressure.TopscientistsMartyBlaserandGloriaDominguezinvestigatehowtheeradicationofhealthybacteriaisaffectingourhealth.Theirresearchisleadingthemtopatientsaroundtheworldwhoaresufferingfromlife-threateningdiseasestriggeredbythisdisruption.Themissionistocurethem,butalsotorestoreourmissingmicrobesbeforeithasdisastrousconsequences.