Understanding the human body is a team effort. That's where the Yachtel group comes in.

Researchers at Yachtolt have been delving into the secrets of probiotics for 90 years.

Yacold also partners with nature portfolio to advance gut microbiome science through the global grants for gut health, an investigator-led research program.

To learn more about Yachtolt, visit yawcult.co.

.j.p. That's Y-A-K-U-L-T.C-O.J-P. When it comes to a guide for your gut, count on Yacolt.

This is Scientific American 60-second science. I'm Christopher Ndalata. Got a minute?

The human microbiome is the community of tiny organisms that live on us and inside us.

These critters play vital roles in our health. They calibrate our immune systems, ward off pathogenic bacteria, even affect our weight.

But if we stop the navel gazing, literally, because some scientists are actually measuring belly button bacteria,

there's a whole lot to be found in the microbiomes of other organisms, too.

Take the pesky mosquito.

A few years back, scientists found a soil microbe called chromobacterium CSPP, living in the guts of mosquitoes in Panama.

Upon further study, the researchers say this mosquito occupant could be a remarkably versatile weapon to fight malaria and denge fever,

because chromobacterium shortens the lifespan of disease-transmitting mosquito species that harbor it

and kills their larvae outright. It also reduces mosquitoes ability to catch the dengivirus,

or the malarial parasite, and it kills both pathogens in the lab. Those findings are in the journal

Ploss pathogens. The researchers say this chromobacterium strain could

someday guide the development of new drugs, or serve as a more environmentally friendly stand-in

for pesticides. But they also say that, as with many disease control strategies, there's no one

silver bullet. Drugs, vaccines, and education will still be crucial to keeping mosquito-borne

killers in check, along with good old vector control. In this case, fighting bugs with bugs.

Thanks for the minute. For Scientific American 60 Second Science, I'm Christopher Entagiot.

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