2024-10-08 14:00:00
Children play in the hay on a Bavarian farm, image taken from the documentary “Long live the microbes! », by Marie-Monique Robin. M2R FILMS
ARTE – TUESDAY OCTOBER 8 AT 8:55 P.M. – DOCUMENTARY
Microbes, these double-faced Januses. Their dark side is known: it is that of the emissaries of infectious diseases. But they also have a luminous side, essential for our health. It is this beneficial side that this documentary with an eloquent title rehabilitates, Long live germs! : “We often consider that bacteria are our enemies, but the vast majority are our partners”recalls Michael Wagner, microbiologist at the University of Vienna, Austria.
In a famous fable, the country rat teaches the city rat a lesson. Today, rural children can be models for those in metropolitan areas: they are much better equipped against allergic diseases. Since the 1960s, the frequency of asthma, eczema and allergies (to pollen or certain foods) has doubled every ten years in industrialized countries, where they now affect 35% of the population.
Read also: Article reserved for our Ego tripes subscribers
Add to your selections
A riddle that scientists have finally solved. It is their thrilling detective work that the director, Marie-Monique Robin, invites us to follow. The investigation first leads us to the very first museum in the world dedicated to microbes, in Amsterdam – and its famous collection of droppings. Then it transports us through the urbanized, rural or wooded areas of Franche-Comté and Bavaria, Finland and Thailand, Gabon or Japan, with a small detour through the Amish and Mennonite communities in the United States and through the European Parliament, where researchers and politicians debated these diseases of civilization.
The “farm effect”
Dust from rooms and stables, bacteria from the digestive tract, intestinal parasites from villagers, playground floors… Everywhere, doctors and immunologists, microbiologists and ecologists are exploring microbial trails, comparing the immune defenses of urban children to those of children in campaigns.
Read the story: Article reserved for our subscribers What are microbes attached to?
Add to your selections
This is how the hypothesis of the “farm effect” was eventually born: by exposing children early to a wide diversity of microbes, this rural environment trains their immune system to recognize and tolerate “good antigens”. » – and not to overreact by creating inflammation. An antidote to concrete, to the lack of contact with nature, to the sterilization of industrial foods and to the hyperhygienism of city dwellers, in short.
The ideal, concludes Michael Wagner, would be “to teach everyone to have a healthy intestinal microbiota”. Repeated contact with nature, forest bathing, favorable diet: so many precepts which combine business with pleasure.
Long live germs! Documentary by Marie-Monique Robin (Fr.-Aut., 2024, 94 min).
1728398417
#proper #full #rehabilitation
“The Hidden Heroes of Human Health: Unveiling the Power of Microbes”
As I delved into the fascinating world of microbes through the documentary “Long live the microbes!”, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at the complexities of these tiny, often-maligned organisms. For too long, microbes have been viewed as the villains of the medical world, responsible for spreading infectious diseases and wreaking havoc on human health. However, as this thought-provoking documentary masterfully reveals, there is another side to the story – a side that highlights the essential role microbes play in maintaining our well-being.
The documentary, directed by Marie-Monique Robin, takes viewers on a captivating journey to various corners of the world, from the rolling hills of Bavaria to the bustling streets of Tokyo, and from the dense forests of Finland to the sun-kissed fields of Gabon. Along the way, we meet a diverse cast of characters, including microbiologist Michael Wagner, who passionately makes the case for the importance of microbes in our lives.
One of the most striking discoveries to emerge from the documentary is the stark contrast between the health of children growing up in rural areas versus those in urban centers. While city-dwellers are increasingly susceptible to allergic diseases such as asthma and eczema, their rural counterparts appear to be better equipped to handle these conditions. The reasons for this disparity are multifaceted, but at its core lies the exposure to a diverse range of microbes that rural children experience from a young age.
The documentary expertly weaves together cutting-edge research, real-life examples, and historical context to shed light on the fascinating world of microbes. From the famous “hygiene hypothesis” to the remarkable discoveries being made in the field of metagenomics, “Long live the microbes!” is a thrilling ride that will challenge your assumptions and leave you with a newfound appreciation for these tiny, but mighty, organisms.
Ultimately, the documentary’s central message is clear: microbes are not our enemies, but rather our allies in the pursuit of health and well-being. By embracing this shift in perspective, we may uncover new avenues for preventing and treating diseases, and perhaps even redefine our relationship with the natural world.
As I finished watching the documentary, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of hope and optimism. If we can learn to harness the power of microbes to our advantage, the potential benefits for human health are immense. “Long live the microbes!” is more than just a documentary – it’s a call to action, a reminder that even the smallest of creatures can hold the key to unlocking a brighter, healthier future for us all.
