Introduction
The moment of the scientific discovery of microorganisms allowed scientists to answer many questions about the origin of life and the processes of interaction of living beings. According to Appana (2018), “microbes play a critical role in the development of both physiological and anatomical features of the living organisms they inhabit” (p. 24). Nowadays, microbes are actively used in many sectors of human life, especially in the health sphere. Specialists use them to improve the biological processes of the human body, treat complex and rare diseases, and fight harmful microorganisms. The purpose of this paper is to consider both the positive and negative effects of microorganisms on people and the role of microbiology in the health industry.
Microbes as a Means of Enhancement for Human Body
Microorganisms have always influenced and continue to influence the course of evolution in general and humanity in particular. According to Appana (2018), “the close associations with microbes assist in the daily easing life of a variety of organisms…” (p. 22). Many generally accepted natural functions of the human body are performed by various groups of microbes that exist inside people. Researchers note that the symbiosis is so strong that the absence of germs in the organism can lead to critical deterioration of major human biological systems, even leading to death (Wang, Wei, Min, & Zhu, 2018).
It is also worth noting that doctors have long been using microorganisms as medications to stabilize internal natural processes by artificially introducing germs into the patient’s body (Wang et al., 2018). Perhaps in the future, scientists will be able to find a solution to such modern diseases as cancer through research into the nature of microbes.
Microorganisms as a Main Cause of Diseases
Not all germs are equally beneficial to the health of multicellular organisms. The goal of many of them is the destruction and absorption of the host. According to Wang et al. (2018), the destructive effects of harmful microorganisms can affect all aspects of the human organism, from natural weight to DNA. Some of these microbes have forever remained in the history of humankind as sources of mass infections and epidemics. Many types of germs and the principles of their influence on people are still a secret for biologists and anthropologists.
Microbiology and its Contribution to the Health
Since the discovery of microbes, the subsequent emergence of a new scientific discipline has only been a matter of time. According to Moody (2017), “microbiology is the branch of science that studies microorganisms” (para. 1). It is important to note that the new layer of theoretical and practical knowledge has allowed scientists to develop new rapid methods for diagnosing diseases and testing technologies for samples (Moody, 2017).
It was microbiologists who were able to create medicaments that contain the necessary microorganisms in a safe amount. Also, microbiology has influenced the food industry by contributing to the development of products with the addition of microbes to regularly maintain human health. Today, microbiologists work closely with specialists from the discipline of nanotechnology for the improvement and extension of human life.
Conclusion
Understanding the fundamental aspects of the life of microbes gives an idea of their role in the framework of human existence. The discovery of germs and the detailed study of them allowed scientists to describe many of the natural laws and mechanisms of the human organism. It became clear that microorganisms are a natural satellite of human existence. Scientists from the microbiological area have determined that some types of microbes are useful. On their basis, specialists have created medicine for the treatment of diseases caused by other microorganisms. Future technological innovations will provide an opportunity to take a closer look at the secrets of the microbiome and develop new techniques for bettering human health.
References
Appana, V. D. (2018). Human microbes – The power within: Health, healing and beyond. Sudbury, Canada: Springer.
Moody, M. (2017). Understanding microbiology. Microreviews in Cell and Molecular Biology, 2(2). Web.
Wang, H., Wei, C. X., Min, L., & Zhu, L. Y. (2018). Good or bad: Gut bacteria in human health and diseases. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 32(5), 1075-1080. Web.