Microbes and Social Equity

In recent years, microbiome science has established that microbes in the gut, water, soil, plants and air are all vital to human health. These habitats contain a multitude of beneficial and pathogenic organisms, and the composition of active microbes in a community often dictate the health and resilience of that ecosystem. Access to beneficial microbes is unevenly distributed across different communities, however, which makes it harder for everyone to achieve positive health outcomes. Health inequities are even more pronounced in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). More interdisciplinary research is needed in order to develop a comprehensive understanding and actionable plans to address such issues.