Ep. 257, Chapter 5: The Challenges Of Microbiomes And Antibiotic Resistance With Thomas Levenson

39:54– 48:29

Levenson acknowledges the microbiome as a potential new frontier for germ theory, acknowledging its immense complexity since traditional germ theory focuses on individual microbes with clear cause-and-effect relationships, while the microbiome is an intricate ecosystem within our bodies. Past clinical failures in developing microbiome-targeted drugs highlight how much more there is to learn. New antibiotics, meanwhile, face financial hurdles more than scientific ones because they are typically short-term treatments, which makes them less appealing for investment than chronic medications. Nonetheless, Levenson stresses the enormous societal benefits of developing new antimicrobial drugs requires a an equal social commitment, funded through tax dollars and supported by governmental or non-governmental programs.