Say Hello to the Bugs in Your Gut

Taking a census is important for several reasons. "We need to know who's there, especially the good bugs that make up the majority of the microbial community, so we can minimize any harm to them when we go after the bad guys," says George Weinstock, a professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine who is working on the project.

While obesity gets most of the attention, Gordon has his eyes on another prize: fighting malnutrition. Making microbes in the gut more efficient could be one way to help the millions of people around the globe who don't get enough to eat each day or those who involuntarily lose weight while battling cancer or heart failure.

Skerrett is editor of the Harvard Heart Letter. Walker is the Conrad Taff Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. For more on nutrition and health go to health.harvard.edu and health.harvard.edu/newsweek.

© 2007