But these bacteria have come under attack ...

In recent years, scientists have developed a growing appreciation for BЂњmicrobiome, BЂ "Collection of mostly beneficial bacteria that help us digest food, absorb key nutrients and fight off invading pathogens. Investigators cataloged thousands of organisms through the National Institutes HealthBЂ ™ s, started in 2008. Blaser interested in why so many bacteria colonize the human body as long BЂ "the simple fact that they have suggests that they may serve some useful purpose. But these bacteria have come under attack in the last 80-odd years by the development of antibiotics. Drugs certainly deserve some credit for the expansion of American life, Blaser said BЂ "child born today will live in '78, 15 years longer than a child born in 1940. But in many ways strattera no prescritpion, an antibiotic targeted to a specific disease by nuclear bombs criminal purposes, causing great damage deposit things youBЂ ™ d rather than destroy. BЂњAntibiotics kill bacteria, we want and those we donBЂ ™ t BЂ «Blaser says. BЂњSometimes, our friendly flora never fully recover. BЂ "

And that may leave us more susceptible to various kinds of diseases, especially considering that the typical American is exposed

a child alone. Blaser notes that the growth (not to mention excessive) antibiotics coincides with rise in allergies, asthma, type 1 diabetes, obesity and inflammatory bowel disease. This isnBЂ ™ t evidence that two related, but itBЂ ™ SA issue deserves study, he says. Take, for example helicobacter pylori. As Blaser explains, this bacterium was the dominant microbe in the stomach BЂњthe almost all peopleBЂ "In the early 1900's. But 100 years later, it is in less than 6% of American, Swedish and German children. One possible reason is that one course amoxicillin or another antibiotic to treat ear or respiratory infection can kill H. pylori

20% to 50% of the time. The implications arenBЂ ™ t clear. H. pylori

can cause ulcers and stomach cancer, so thereBЂ ™, probably slightly up. But his absence may be at increased gastro-oesophageal reflux, which can lead to esophageal BarrettBЂ ™ and esophageal cancer. Interestingly, the researchers also found that two hormone produced in the stomach BЂ "

BЂ" behave differently when H. pylori

isnBЂ ™ t around. Ghrelin is a hormone that is responsible for saying that the brain youBЂ ™ re, hungry, and leptin must send a signal that youBЂ ™ re full. In our own laboratory BlaserBЂ ™ s, researchers found that children who have H. pylori

more likely to asthma, hay fever and allergies. Other experiments done on mice, suggesting that it protects against asthma. .