The ecology of the unseen

On the global scale, humankind is having a profound impact on the ecology of assemblages
of organisms which we can see with the naked eye. At the same time, we are also starting
to learn about the impact of our collective, modern lifestyles on the ecology of the unseen, for
example the microbes in our gut which are being affected by the overuse of antibiotics and unhealthy
diets. However, we do not fully understand which functions the microorganisms fulfill as
our knowledge so far is rather limited. In our own research, we see for example that 50-90 % of
the molecules produced by microbes are completely unknown to Science but likely play important
roles in key physiological processes. This means that we as humans are presently affecting
key microbial processes in our bodies without fully understanding the possible repercussions.
In addition, many of these molecules likely have bioactive properties and, thereby, represent
an untapped resource for the development of new drugs. Therefore, it is important that we start
charting out this great molecular expanse to ensure its stewardship for generations to come.