Some deep-sea creatures without mouths or guts rely entirely on microbes for energy.

Rather than acting as a brute defense against intruders, the immune system is described as an instrument for managing microbial co-existence. Resident microbes "educate" the immune system, helping it distinguish between friend and foe.

Microbes are not passive passengers; they are active builders and defenders:

Bacteria help us digest food, break down toxins, and even influence our behavior and moods by interacting with our nervous system. A Grander View of Life

In I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life , Ed Yong explores the transformative field of microbiome research, challenging the traditional view of microbes as mere "germs" and reframing them as essential partners in the story of life. The End of the Individual