Introduction

This episode is the first in a series of three devoted to our September 2016 issue on the microbiome. We'll look at when we first acquire a microbiome and the role that these bugs have on the development of organ systems as diverse as the gut and the immune system. We will then discuss the role of the microbiome in diseases such as autoimmunity, allergies and asthma and psychological disorders. Lastly, we'll address the clinical techniques used to modulate the microbiome to aid in those diseases including the much talked about fecal transplant.