Microorganisms as Shapers of Human Civilization, from Pandemics to Even Our Genomes: Villains or Friends? A Historical Approach
Universal history is characterized by continuous evolution, in which civilizations are born and die. This evolution is associated with multiple factors, among which the role of microorganisms is often overlooked. Viruses and bacteria have written or decisively contributed to terrible episodes of his...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2518 |
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| author | Francisco Rodríguez-Frías Josep Quer David Tabernero Maria Francesca Cortese Selene Garcia-Garcia Ariadna Rando-Segura Tomas Pumarola |
| author_facet | Francisco Rodríguez-Frías Josep Quer David Tabernero Maria Francesca Cortese Selene Garcia-Garcia Ariadna Rando-Segura Tomas Pumarola |
| author_sort | Francisco Rodríguez-Frías |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Universal history is characterized by continuous evolution, in which civilizations are born and die. This evolution is associated with multiple factors, among which the role of microorganisms is often overlooked. Viruses and bacteria have written or decisively contributed to terrible episodes of history, such as the Black Death in 14th century Europe, the annihilation of pre-Columbian American civilizations, and pandemics such as the 1918 Spanish flu or the current COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Nevertheless, it is clear that we could not live in a world without these tiny beings. Endogenous retroviruses have been key to our evolution and for the regulation of gene expression, and the gut microbiota helps us digest compounds that we could not otherwise process. In addition, we have used microorganisms to preserve or prepare food for millennia and more recently to obtain drugs such as antibiotics or to develop recombinant DNA technologies. Due to the enormous importance of microorganisms for our survival, they have significantly influenced the population genetics of different human groups. This paper will review the role of microorganisms as “villains” who have been responsible for tremendous mortality throughout history but also as “friends” who help us survive and evolve. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:31:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f1a7d46631840acad3bdedeb570e609 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:31:58Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f1a7d46631840acad3bdedeb570e6092023-11-23T09:39:14ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-12-01912251810.3390/microorganisms9122518Microorganisms as Shapers of Human Civilization, from Pandemics to Even Our Genomes: Villains or Friends? A Historical ApproachFrancisco Rodríguez-Frías0Josep Quer1David Tabernero2Maria Francesca Cortese3Selene Garcia-Garcia4Ariadna Rando-Segura5Tomas Pumarola6Clinical Biochemistry Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Vall d’Hebron Institut Recerca-Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, SpainCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, SpainCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, SpainClinical Biochemistry Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Vall d’Hebron Institut Recerca-Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, SpainClinical Biochemistry Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Vall d’Hebron Institut Recerca-Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, SpainLiver Pathology Unit, Departments of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Microbiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, SpainUniversal history is characterized by continuous evolution, in which civilizations are born and die. This evolution is associated with multiple factors, among which the role of microorganisms is often overlooked. Viruses and bacteria have written or decisively contributed to terrible episodes of history, such as the Black Death in 14th century Europe, the annihilation of pre-Columbian American civilizations, and pandemics such as the 1918 Spanish flu or the current COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Nevertheless, it is clear that we could not live in a world without these tiny beings. Endogenous retroviruses have been key to our evolution and for the regulation of gene expression, and the gut microbiota helps us digest compounds that we could not otherwise process. In addition, we have used microorganisms to preserve or prepare food for millennia and more recently to obtain drugs such as antibiotics or to develop recombinant DNA technologies. Due to the enormous importance of microorganisms for our survival, they have significantly influenced the population genetics of different human groups. This paper will review the role of microorganisms as “villains” who have been responsible for tremendous mortality throughout history but also as “friends” who help us survive and evolve.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2518pandemicsplague<i>Yersinia pestis</i>influenzaCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2 |
| spellingShingle | Francisco Rodríguez-Frías Josep Quer David Tabernero Maria Francesca Cortese Selene Garcia-Garcia Ariadna Rando-Segura Tomas Pumarola Microorganisms as Shapers of Human Civilization, from Pandemics to Even Our Genomes: Villains or Friends? A Historical Approach Microorganisms pandemics plague <i>Yersinia pestis</i> influenza COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 |
| title | Microorganisms as Shapers of Human Civilization, from Pandemics to Even Our Genomes: Villains or Friends? A Historical Approach |
| title_full | Microorganisms as Shapers of Human Civilization, from Pandemics to Even Our Genomes: Villains or Friends? A Historical Approach |
| title_fullStr | Microorganisms as Shapers of Human Civilization, from Pandemics to Even Our Genomes: Villains or Friends? A Historical Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microorganisms as Shapers of Human Civilization, from Pandemics to Even Our Genomes: Villains or Friends? A Historical Approach |
| title_short | Microorganisms as Shapers of Human Civilization, from Pandemics to Even Our Genomes: Villains or Friends? A Historical Approach |
| title_sort | microorganisms as shapers of human civilization from pandemics to even our genomes villains or friends a historical approach |
| topic | pandemics plague <i>Yersinia pestis</i> influenza COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2518 |
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