Since the 17th century, when Antonie van Leeuwenhoek first observed microorganisms through the lens of a rudimentary microscope, humans have slowly come to appreciate that ours is a germy world.

Our skin provides a vibrant habitat for bacteria, fungi and viruses (Credit: Getty Images) Billions of bacteria, fungi and viruses live on the surface of our bodies. We are only just beginning to ...

Bacteria, viruses, yeast and parasites in your gut? It may sound like the stuff of nightmares, but this collection of microbes is actually a health necessity, experts say. Called the microbiome, it ...

The human body is home to millions of friendly bacteria but how does it distinguish helpful microbes from foreign invaders? A new study on mice sheds light on how a body’s immune system develops ...

Bacteria found in human guts that a leading expert has called 'The Four Horseman of longevity' could help you live to 100. Doctor and Harvard University scientist Dr William Li recently appeared on a ...

Babies born via Caesarean section receive less of their mother’s bacteria during birth, but helpful microbes can still reach them through other ways such as breastfeeding, research suggests.

Macaques on the island of Cayo Santiago (Lauren Brent/University of Oxford/PA) Friendly monkeys have higher levels of helpful bacteria and lower levels of potentially disease-causing microbes in their ...

Some bacteria cause diseases, including food poisoning, meningitis and scarlet fever. Inside the body, these bacteria reproduce quickly. They produce poisons that make you feel ill. Among the people ...

Friendly monkeys have higher levels of helpful bacteria and lower levels of potentially disease-causing microbes in their guts, research suggests. Scientists from the University of Oxford have found ...