When it comes to microorganisms—bacteria, fungi, viruses and others—human beings are walking, talking microbial ecosystems.
There are about 700 species of microbes in our mouths, including Streptococcus viridans, Neisseria sicca, and Candida albicans..1
Even our skin is colonized by a huge collection of about 1,000 microorganisms, including mites, bacteria, fungi and viruses, with wonderful-sounding names like Staphylococcus epidermis and Pityrosporum ovale..2
And anywhere from 500 to 1,000 species of microorganisms live in our intestines, including Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus gasseri and Escherichia coli..3 Yes, E. coli lives in all of us and helps break down the food we eat.…