Microbes are tiny organisms-too tiny to see without a microscope, yet they are abundant on Earth. They live everywhere-in air, soil, rock, and water. Some of them live happily in searing heat, and others in freezing cold. Like humans, some microbes need oxygen to live, but others cannot exist with it. These microscopic organisms are in plants, animals, and in the human body. Some microbes cause disease in humans, plants, and animals. Others are essential for a healthy life, and we could not exist without them. Indeed, the relationship between microbes and humans is very delicate and complex. In this booklet, we will learn that some microbes keep us healthy while others can make us sick. Most microbes belong to one of four major groups: bacteria, viruses, fungi, or protozoa. A familiar, often-used word for microbes that cause disease is 'germs.' Some people refer to disease-causing microbes as 'bugs.' 'I've got the flu bug,' for example, is a phrase you may hear during the wintertime to describe an influenza virus infection. Since the 19th century, we have known microbes cause infectious diseases. Near the end of the 20th century, researchers began to learn that microbes also contribute to many chronic diseases and conditions. Mounting scientific evidence strongly links them to some forms of cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, autism, and chronic lung diseases.
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