It is common knowledge that the human gut is home to hordes of bacteria, most of which seem essential for good health. But there is another component of the gut microbiome that receives less attention: viruses.
Wherever there are bacteria, viruses called bacteriophages lurk in prodigious quantities. These bacteria-killing microorganisms, first noted in the early twentieth century, are the most abundant biological entities on Earth. An estimated one billion bacteriophages, or phages, reside in one gram of faeces. However, despite their considerable number, the collection of viruses...
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As soon as you put starch in your mouth — whether in the form of a dumpling, a forkful of mashed potatoes or a saltine — you start breaking it down with an enzyme in your saliva.