WE wash ourselves regularly and tidy our homes to keep germs at bay - but the UK is under attack from a plague of bedbugs.
There has been a 38 per cent spike in the number of the mites over the past year, say pest control experts Rentokil.
But Rob Dunn, professor of biology at North Carolina University, insists many of the parasites and bacteria in the home and in our systems are working with us.
In his new book The Wild Life Of Our Bodies, he even claims our obsession with cleanliness could be linked to diabetes, autism, allergies and vision problems.
Here, Rob explains what is living on us and why.
Skin
Dust mites live in our beds, feeding off dead skin.
Any given pillow might have as many as a dozen different kinds of mites.
Mouth
This is a wild kingdom. Bacteria are the consumers and other life forms are top dogs. Protists live in your mouth eating bacteria.
Eyebrows
More than half of us have forehead mites. They live in pores and are more common in old people. They have no known effect on us.
Lungs
Fungi called pneumocystis can't live outside of human lungs. But for those with HIV, they can be deadly.
Colon
Thousands of bacteria, viruses and worms live here. Some have "heads", others are twisted and some grow to huge lengths.
Ankle
Our legs are dry like a desert and require special adaptations for habitation. Perhaps a trillion or more organisms live on our skin.
Feet
Sweaty feet are like a rainforest - full of fungi. Bacteria eat amino acids in sweat and the gas emitted is what makes our feet pong.
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Body is full of worms, mites, fungi... | The Sun |Features
There has been a 38 per cent spike in the number of the mites over the past year, say pest control experts Rentokil.
But Rob Dunn, professor of biology at North Carolina University, insists many of the parasites and bacteria in the home and in our systems are working with us.
In his new book The Wild Life Of Our Bodies, he even claims our obsession with cleanliness could be linked to diabetes, autism, allergies and vision problems.
Here, Rob explains what is living on us and why.
Skin
Dust mites live in our beds, feeding off dead skin.
Any given pillow might have as many as a dozen different kinds of mites.
Mouth
This is a wild kingdom. Bacteria are the consumers and other life forms are top dogs. Protists live in your mouth eating bacteria.
Eyebrows
More than half of us have forehead mites. They live in pores and are more common in old people. They have no known effect on us.
Lungs
Fungi called pneumocystis can't live outside of human lungs. But for those with HIV, they can be deadly.
Colon
Thousands of bacteria, viruses and worms live here. Some have "heads", others are twisted and some grow to huge lengths.
Ankle
Our legs are dry like a desert and require special adaptations for habitation. Perhaps a trillion or more organisms live on our skin.
Feet
Sweaty feet are like a rainforest - full of fungi. Bacteria eat amino acids in sweat and the gas emitted is what makes our feet pong.
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Body is full of worms, mites, fungi... | The Sun |Features
