What are microbes and why are they important?
Microbes are small living organisms such as bacteria, archaea and fungi. They are important for several reasons. First, some microbes are pathogens (sick making), such as the bacteria Legionella, Salmonella, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Other microbes can be good, such as the bacteria in your gut. They help humans break down fiber and other plant polysaccharides, so more energy can be obtained from food, they make vitamins, and help form the gut epithelium and immune system.
