Microbiomes

The book explores a paradigm shift in biology, emphasizing the complex systems of plants and animals as hosts to diverse microorganisms. It begins with the historical context of microbiota research and analyzes bacterial compositions within individual microbiomes. Key factors influencing these microbial communities, such as nutrition, exercise, and demographics, are discussed. The author reveals how microbiomes enhance host fitness by providing nutrients, inhibiting pathogens, and influencing development and behavior, while also addressing prokaryotic components, single-cell eukaryotes, and viruses.