Microbiota humana

There are tens of billions of tiny organisms in our digestive tract, which we refer to as microbiomes. Perhaps one of the most important scientific achievements of recent decades has been the recognition of the importance of this system. It has become clear that the basis for everyday well-being, a disease-free life, a healthy body and mind is a balanced environmental system of diverse components that coexist with us in dynamic equilibrium, collectively known as the matrix. The microbiome in the intestinal tract, the skin, the various body cavities, in a healthy state of balance with the host organism, is an indispensable condition for healthy life and existence.

Modern microbiome-associated microbiological research is fundamentally changing the way we see ourselves and our environment. Until recently, microbes have been seen as pathogens, and we have tried to eradicate their presence with anti-infectives, disinfectants or antibiotics. After treatment, we used probiotics to reintroduce the organisms we thought were beneficial. We now know that the vast majority of microbes are present in healthy individuals and that disease is only caused by their overgrowth or by an imbalance between them. It is therefore conceivable that the presence of organisms previously thought to be harmful does not necessarily mean disease and that most of them are essential for healthy life. Inappropriate and unjustified use of disinfectants and antibiotics can destroy microbes and upset the delicate balance between them. The alteration of the optimal microbiome composition (called dysbiosis) leads to the development of diseases and pathological conditions, which some believe is the real cause of disease.