The Human Microbiome, From Unknown to Mainstream
The human microbiome was first discovered in the mid-1880s when Austrian paediatrician, Theodor Escherich, uncovered the presence of Escherichia coli – a species of bacteria typically found within the stomach and intestines. While the 20th Century saw the identification of multiple microorganisms from nasal passages, oral cavities and skin, it wasn’t until the introduction of the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) in 2007 that microbial science became mainstream.
