Missing Microbes

Microbes have existed long before we have and make up a greater share of living biomass than their "larger" counterparts. Two bacteria may be much more genetically different than a human and a tree. These organisms occupy just about every possible environment, including within the human body. The microbes are responsible for a great deal of human functionality, both good and bad. Alas, widespread use of antibiotics has pushed things out of whack. These drugs indiscriminately attack microbes, killing off the bad and the good. However, microbes evolve rapidly, thus allowing antibiotic resistant microbes to dominate. Widespread use of antibiotics helps "favor" the antibiotic-resistant strains, making our miracle cures less viable. There is a widespread tendency for doctors to prescribe antibiotics even when an infection would likely not respond to antibiotics. After all, if there is only a 1% chance of this drug helping, they should use it, right? Unfortunately, this logic leads to over-prescription and makes it more likely that the resistant strains develop, making the drugs useless for the people that really need it.
In addition to killing of the bad, the microbes also kill the good. This may be leading to a large number of different maladies, from asthma to allergies to obesity. Research is only in its early stage. However there are some connections visible now. Other practices have lead to a decreased amount of micro-biota present. C-section bearths reduce the pickup of microbes through the birth canal. Antibiotics fed to animals enter our food supply. Microbes cause ulcers. However, the absence of them may also be a contributing factor in other conditions. Many digestive issues seem to have a close relationship with microbes. (Alas "probiotics" are totally unregulated, so it is difficult to know what is good or bad.) Autism may also be related to microbes.
We have a synergistic relationship with our personal microbes. We should think twice before randomly killing them off.