New research has shown how social interactions can spread “good” microbes between us, as well as transmitting pathogens such as Covid-19.
The authors, who published their work in “Cell”, described how sharing microbes could help protect us against diseases, as well as make us more susceptible.
""Social interactions can provide conduits for pathogen transmission, but beneficial microbes are also known to be transmitted..."
The international team, lead by Harvard University, described how chronic diseases are now being linked with a damaged microbiome which shows how these diseases could have a “contagious” component.
They also argue that humans have evolved to socially transmit helpful microbes, the effects of which outweigh the harm done by pathogens.
