Exploring the Fascinating Microbial World within Us

Prateet Priyadarshan

Abstract: Microbes are the smallest living organisms of the biosphere which are not visible to naked eyes & are well known for their intriguing features. They inhabit nearly all places of this planet, both hospitable & inhospitable ones. They have the greatest diversity in nutrition pattern, habit & habitat, forms etc. They play a key role in ecological balance & a world without them is difficult to imagine. But have you ever that besides living in such a varied environment they also live within us ? Does a human body harbor microbes? If yes, then what type of microbes, what is their location & what role do they play in our body? This article answers all these questions.

Keywords: Microbiota, Microbiome, Prebiotics, Symbiosis, Dysbiosis, bacteriocins, conjunctival microbiota, colonic bacteria, opportunistic bacteria