Both friend and foe, what impact do microorganisms have on human health?

Microbes are the kings of the earth

Creating habitat for the earth

They not only exist in human living environment

Widespread

It also reproduces in the human body and various organisms.

Microorganisms in the human body

The number is about 100 trillion

Even more than human cells

Microorganisms are closely related to human health

It can cause tissue infection and endanger health

It can also participate in the regulation of the body's immune system

Building a barrier

Protect the body from disease

It can be said that they are both enemies and friends.

Today, we invite Professor Xu Yingchun from the Laboratory Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital to explain to you the impact of microorganisms on human health.

Microbes and humans: friends and foes

The relationship between microorganisms and humans is complex and changeable. In some cases, microorganisms may become enemies of humans, causing various infections and diseases; but in different environments, microorganisms can also become friends of humans and have a positive impact on human life activities.

First of all, microorganisms play an important role in human life. There are a large number of microorganisms in the human respiratory tract, reproductive tract, and digestive tract. These microorganisms can help the body digest food and synthesize vitamins . It can be said that microorganisms are indispensable to human life and health.

However, microorganisms are not always beneficial to humans. Some pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, are the culprits of various infections and diseases. For example, pathogenic microorganisms such as Salmonella and Vibrio cholerae can cause serious digestive tract diseases, while influenza viruses and Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause respiratory tract infections. These pathogenic microorganisms pose a huge threat to human health.

Especially for people with impaired immune systems, they need to pay more attention to infections caused by microorganisms. Because the immune system is the first line of defense of the human body, it can help the human body resist the invasion of various pathogenic microorganisms. However, once the immune system is damaged, the body's resistance will decrease, and it will be more vulnerable to pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, people with impaired immune systems need to pay special attention to preventing microbial infections.

In addition, microorganisms are closely related to the human life cycle. Throughout a person's life, many microorganisms will continue to interact with the human body. For example, in infancy, intestinal microorganisms can help babies digest food and synthesize vitamins; in adulthood, intestinal microorganisms may affect the body's metabolism and immune function . In addition, the microbial community in the female reproductive tract will also change with the life cycle, and have different effects on women's fertility and health in due course.

In general, microorganisms play an indispensable role in human life activities. With the continuous development of science and technology, people are expected to regulate the microbial community in the human body through various scientific means to achieve the purpose of preventing and treating certain diseases.

Expert Profile

Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Professor Xu Yingchun

Director of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis, Peking Union Medical College, PhD/Postdoctoral Supervisor. Director of Beijing Key Laboratory, Head of Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base, Member and Office Director of the Expert Committee on Clinical Application and Resistance Evaluation of Antimicrobial Drugs of the National Health Commission, Director of the National Center for Fungal Disease Monitoring Network of the National Health Commission, Head of the Quality Management Center of the National Bacterial Resistance Monitoring Network, and Chairman of the European EUCAST Chinese Susceptibility Testing Committee.

Editor: Liu Yang and Zhao Na

Proofread by Li Na, Li Yule, and Dong Zhe

Producer: Wu Wenming