Who are we? Indigenous microbes and the ecology of human diseases.

摘要: Diseases date back to the dawn of humankind. As humans have evolved, so too their diseases: some that were once rare become common, others disappeared and new varieties emerged. Many these changes taken place in wake important transformations human civilizations ecology. It is therefore feasible propose diseases succeed fail response humanity's advances. My hypothesis explain appearance disappearance diseases—both infectious chronic—is ecology result microbes populate our bodies. This, turn, affects physiology ultimately health. > …diseases advances The invention agriculture about 10,000 years ago led a massive increase population, but at price: by living closer proximity domesticated animals those parasitized food supply (such as rats), became more susceptible measles, plague, tuberculosis other zoonoses. Urbanization during Middle Ages was one main factors facilitating devastating spread Yersinia pestis through crowded cities Europe—the Black Death subsequently killed 30% continent's population. Improved hygiene nineteenth century eventually reduced prevalence along with cholera, dysentery, materno‐fetal mortality, childhood infections ancient foes. The agricultural revolution after Second World War relegated famine its associated diseases—such pellagra, which deficiency niacin—to history, least industrialized world. ![][1] In twentieth centuries, industrialization—and scientific preceded facilitated it—also gave tools for controlling diseases. Due improvements sanitation, antibiotics vaccines, smallpox has now been eradicated, polio on brink extinction many … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif