Microbes; how illnesses are treated

Microbes are tiny living things visible only under a microscope: bacteria, small fungi and others. The word “microbe” comes from Greek “micro” (small) and “bio” (life). The Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was the first to see them, with a microscope he made himself. Microbes are everywhere: in water, soil, air, on objects, even on our skin and in our gut. Most are harmless or useful. Lactic-acid bacteria help make yogurt, ayran and cheese. Nodule bacteria live on the roots of legumes and enrich the soil with nitrogen. Helpful gut bacteria assist digestion and defence. Blue mould is used to make some cheeses, and the first antibiotic, penicillin, came from a mould. Harmful microbes cause illness; black mould in houses can cause allergies and breathing problems. To avoid microbes, wash hands with soap, do not eat unwashed fruit and vegetables, and keep the house aired and dry. Do not eat or sniff mouldy bread or fruit.