FASEB has released its latest publication in the Breakthroughs in Bioscience series. “The Human Microbiome: Your Own Personal Ecosystem” explores the multitude of microorganisms living in and on humans and how they affect health and disease. For more than three hundred years, scientists have observed, identified, and implicated individual microorganisms in specific diseases. More recently, with a convergence of scientific disciplines, an explosion in technical capabilities, and revolutionary new ways of thinking, scientists are exploring the organisms with which we share our bodies. The effects of these organisms–our microbiome–on our heath are only just being recognized.

Breakthroughs in Bioscience is a collection of illustrated articles that highlight recent developments in basic biomedical research and explain how they impact medicine and human health. Print copies of this and other Breakthroughs articles are available at no cost for educational or advocacy purposes and can be requested by visiting our website or by contacting FASEB’s Office of Public Affairs at 301-634-7650.