The human flora...what are they good for?

[Dory]

So we got all these bacteria in our bodies doing all sorts of shit, and I wanna know what exactly they do. Heck, it turns out, that SOME of them are not even useful. They gain something from us, but we're apparently not harmed by this (commensalism). Fuck this shit. I want them to pay for it by being beneficial in some way, or get the hell out of my body. I'm partly considering to send a nanobot to my body and destroy with nano-laser-beam machine gun all those scumbags.


But serious point here, is what are some of the bacteria USEFUL function in our bodies? And, how can a bacteria be inside us, feed from something within us, and not be either mutual or parasitic?

[Clinton Huxley]

I, for one, welcome our unicellular overlords

[Feck]

http://www.dms.ufsc.br/mip7013/arquivos ... isease.pdf

[Dory]

Thanks, Feck... I was hoping for a more condensed version of the answer. That's like asking "how evolution works" and be given the origin of species instead of a simple explanation about alleles and natural selection, and then following it up with a reference for a source.

I am sure you're gonna kindly accept my rebuke and not lash out your dog on a tranny,

At any rate, it only answers the first question, they're basically out there to help out metabolic pathways and the immune system. But it didn't ask me question about neutral bacteria. I just wonder how can a bacteria be within us and not be either harmful or beneficial. It has to get energy from somewhere. It has to effect our body somehow. I'd like an example of a bacteria-human commensalism.

[Clinton Huxley]

One could imagine a type of bacteria that was physiologically neutral in the body but was useful in occupying a niche that would otherwise be invaded by truly harmful bacteria.

[Dory]

One could imagine a type of bacteria that was physiologically neutral in the body but was useful in occupying a niche that would otherwise be invaded by truly harmful bacteria.

Ah....so they're really beneficial, if you put it like this.

[Feck]

They are not there TO do any thing they happen to have found a niche they are exploiting it they fact that some of then benefit us is just handy

http://mpicel.myweb.uga.edu/

[Pappa]

Dory, if you removed all the bacteria from our body, we'd die. We've evolved with them there and they with us. Mostly the relationship isn't literally symbiotic, but in some cases nearly so (there's a proper name for "almost symbiotic", can't remember it though).

Yes, some bacteria are harmful to us, others benign, others beneficial. Presumably, some may be both harmful and/or beneficial. Aside from those bacteria that we actually need just to be alive, and the bacteria that may offer us small benefits, there is also a school of thought that our bodies may need to have harmful bacteria around to give our immune system something to do or it will start attacking allergens or our own bodies.

[Dory]

That's well and good, but nevermind-- I think my drift has been lost. I was just looking for an example of a neutral bacteria in our body (or according to you, Pappa, "benign"), but perhaps I'm running a school of thought that's rather different as to what's beneficial and what's benign.

[PsychoSerenity]

And, how can a bacteria be inside us, feed from something within us, and not be either mutual or parasitic?

Hmm a riddle.



Ooh I've got an answer!

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

If they're only eating what we are about to shit out anyway!

Did I get it right?

[Dory]

Fair enough.

[GenesForLife]

Thanks, Feck... I was hoping for a more condensed version of the answer. That's like asking "how evolution works" and be given the origin of species instead of a simple explanation about alleles and natural selection, and then following it up with a reference for a source.

I am sure you're gonna kindly accept my rebuke and not lash out your dog on a tranny,

At any rate, it only answers the first question, they're basically out there to help out metabolic pathways and the immune system. But it didn't ask me question about neutral bacteria. I just wonder how can a bacteria be within us and not be either harmful or beneficial. It has to get energy from somewhere. It has to effect our body somehow. I'd like an example of a bacteria-human commensalism.

They aren't out there to help, they just do in certain cases...

[Bella Fortuna]

I, for one, welcome our unicellular overlords

We already tried that once.

[Dory]

Thanks, Feck... I was hoping for a more condensed version of the answer. That's like asking "how evolution works" and be given the origin of species instead of a simple explanation about alleles and natural selection, and then following it up with a reference for a source.

I am sure you're gonna kindly accept my rebuke and not lash out your dog on a tranny,

At any rate, it only answers the first question, they're basically out there to help out metabolic pathways and the immune system. But it didn't ask me question about neutral bacteria. I just wonder how can a bacteria be within us and not be either harmful or beneficial. It has to get energy from somewhere. It has to effect our body somehow. I'd like an example of a bacteria-human commensalism.

They aren't out there to help, they just do in certain cases...

Thank you captain obv....oh, it's you Genes. Thank you master

[GenesForLife]

hahaha Bella, good one.

Dory!