Microbes and puberty: a teenager’s guide
In this article in Microbiology Today (February 2008), Gemma Sims guides teens through the microbiology of puberty:
Being a teenager can be so horrible that many adults (especially teachers and parents) have wiped its ghastly memories from their minds. It is easy to feel lonely and isolated, but don’t worry, you are not alone: there are over 10 times the numbers of microbes living in and on you than there are human cells in your body. You are home to a complex community of bugs such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. They live in your gut, mouth, skin, vagina, upper respiratory tract and urethra, and each of us has our own unique collection. They help digestion, synthesize vitamins, boost immunity and occupy niches that would otherwise be filled by pathogens. Puberty is a time of change, both physically and emotionally, and this affects your microbes too…
Tags: Antibiotics, Bacteria, Biology, Health, Medicine, Microbiology, Science
How and where was Propionibacterium acnes discovered?