Every human being is home to trillions of microscopic organisms. They occupy every surface of the body, from the gut to the skin and they influence digestion, immunity, mood and long-term disease risk. Understanding them is among the most consequential projects in modern medicine. For medical laboratory technicians ready to advance their careers, the University of West Florida (UWF) Clinical Laboratory Sciences, B.S. — MLT to MLS online program builds the advanced skills needed to work at the forefront of this science.
Medical laboratory scientists are central to this work. UWF’s program prepares credentialed MLTs for medical laboratory scientist roles through advanced coursework in molecular diagnostics, hematology, clinical chemistry, diagnostic microbiology and clinical immunology. They design experiments, analyze specimens and interpret data that reveals how our microbial communities function and what happens when they are disrupted.
What Are Microbes?
Microbes, or microorganisms, are living organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye. Most are single-celled, though some exist as clusters. They include bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, algae, archaea and prions, each with distinct characteristics and functions.
Microbiology has roots in the late 19th century. French chemist Louis Pasteur established that bacteria drive fermentation and his contemporaries, including Robert Koch, developed techniques for culturing and observing microbial specimens in laboratory settings. Those foundational methods remain in use today, refined by more than a century of innovation.
Where Are Microbes Found?
Microbes colonize virtually every surface inside and outside the human body. The gastrointestinal tract hosts the densest population: research published in PLOS Biology estimates that the colon alone contains approximately 38 trillion bacterial cells — roughly the same order of magnitude as the approximately 30 trillion human cells we carry. That finding revised the long-cited 10:1 estimate of microbial to human cells closer to 1:1.
Other notable microbiome locations include the nose, skin, eyes, mouth and genitalia. Many essential microbes are acquired early in life through contact with soil, animals and other people. Millions more enter continuously through the surfaces we touch, the air we breathe and the plumbing we use.
The sum of all microbial life in the human body is called the “human microbiota.” A diverse and balanced microbiota is associated with lower risk of obesity, diabetes, asthma and other chronic conditions.
The Gut-Brain Connection: Why Microbiology Matters for Mental Health
One of the most significant recent discoveries in microbiology is the gut-brain axis: a bidirectional communication network between the gastrointestinal microbiome and the central nervous system.
Changes in microbial composition affect which chemical signals reach the brain, influencing how neurons fire. Animal studies have demonstrated that manipulating gut microbiota can alter behavior. Some scientists are investigating whether targeted probiotics could help reduce seizure frequency in people with epilepsy or stabilize mood in people with anxiety and depression.
The overlap between gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease with mental health conditions has drawn particular research interest. If specific microbial profiles are associated with mood regulation, targeted dietary, or therapeutic interventions could open new treatment avenues.
Probiotics: Promise, Limits and Ongoing Research
Probiotics are live microorganisms intended to confer health benefits when consumed. They appear in supplements, fermented foods including yogurt, kefir, sourdough bread, kimchi and topical applications.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that while probiotics are widely marketed, evidence for long-term benefits on chronic medical conditions is limited. In healthy individuals with a well-functioning gastrointestinal tract, the measurable effects are often modest. For immunocompromised individuals, introducing non-native bacteria carries infection risk.
Despite these limitations, probiotics anchor a significant area of research. Their role in drug development and microbiome-targeted therapies gives them lasting scientific relevance, even if retail health claims often outpace the evidence.
The Hygiene Hypothesis: Are We Too Clean?
In 1989, British epidemiologist David Strachan of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine proposed what became known as the hygiene hypothesis: overly sterile environments deprive the immune system of the microbial exposure it needs to develop properly.
Widespread use of antibiotics, antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers has altered the human microbiome at a population level. Childhood asthma rates increased as antimicrobial product use grew, a pattern consistent with Strachan’s hypothesis. Antibiotics are indiscriminate, eliminating pathogens and beneficial bacteria alike. The body naturally replenishes its microbiota, but not always quickly enough to prevent opportunistic infections during recovery. This line of research has shifted the scientific focus from eliminating all bacteria to understanding which microbial communities protect health and how to preserve or restore them.
What Microbe Research Means for Medical Lab Science Careers
The expanding frontier of microbiome research requires laboratory scientists who can design experiments, culture specimens, analyze genetic data and interpret complex results. The field needs people who are curious about biological systems and fluent in laboratory techniques that reveal how microbial communities change over time.
For credentialed medical laboratory technicians ready to advance, UWF’s Clinical Laboratory Sciences, B.S. — MLT to MLS online program builds on existing MLT training with advanced coursework in molecular diagnostics, hematology, clinical chemistry, diagnostic microbiology and clinical immunology — preparing graduates to step into medical laboratory scientist roles at the cutting edge of this research. The program is delivered fully online and is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
Ready to work at the forefront of microbiome science?
UWF’s online Clinical Laboratory Sciences, B.S. — MLT to MLS program helps credentialed MLTs build the advanced skills in molecular diagnostics, immunology, and diagnostic microbiology needed to study discoveries like these firsthand.
Learn MoreAbout UWF’s Online Clinical Laboratory Sciences, B.S. — MLT to MLS
The University of West Florida’s online Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Bachelor of Science — MLT to MLS program is designed for credentialed medical laboratory technicians seeking to advance to medical laboratory scientist status. The curriculum covers the full range of clinical laboratory competencies — including molecular diagnostics, hematology, clinical immunology and clinical chemistry.
Graduates are prepared for the national board exam offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology and go on to work in hospitals, research laboratories, blood banks and public health agencies. For MLTs ready to take the next step, UWF’s fully online, NAACLS-accredited program offers a direct path to medical laboratory scientist credentials.