The term "microbiomes" encapsulates a significant scientific breakthrough of recent years. It refers to the realization that humans, other animals, and plants harbor communities of microorganisms that are mostly beneficial but can sometimes cause or exacerbate diseases. Our rapidly growing understanding of microbiomes is being translated into new microbial therapies for human diseases and is contributing to sustainable practices in agriculture and food production. On the other hand, there is growing concern that some claims about microbiomes, particularly in relation to human health, far exceed the scientific data.

This Very Short Introduction is an essential guide to the fast-moving discipline of microbiome science. It accessibly distills key facts about our resident microbiomes, explains how and why our health and well-being depend on them, and provides readers with the foundational knowledge they need to assess the reliability of claims about microbiome-based applications.

About the series:

The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new topic quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.