What do ‘microbes’ have to do with social equity? On the surface, very little. But these little organisms are integral to our health, the health of our natural environment, and even impact the ‘health’ of the environments we have built. Early life and the maturation of the immune system, our diet and lifestyle, and the quality of our surrounding environment can all impact our health. Similarly, the loss, gain, and retention of microorganisms — namely their flow from humans to the environment and back — can greatly impact our health and well-being. It is well-known that inequalities in access to perinatal care, healthy foods and fiber, a safe and clean home, and to the natural environment can create and arise from social inequality. Here, we focus on the argument that access to microorganisms as a facet of public health, and argue that health inequality may be compounded by inequitable microbial exposure.
Ishaq et al. 2019 PLoS Biology
About us
The Microbes and Social Equity working group was formed in 2019 to examine, publicize and promote a research program on the reciprocal impact of social inequality and microbiomes, both human and environmental. Suzanne Ishaq, Assistant Professor of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Maine, is the founder and lead organizer for the 230-person (and growing) group, comprised of researchers around the globe at all stages of career and with various specialties. In 2021, 35 members wrote our inaugural publication (Ishaq et al. 2021) introducing the group, establishing our mission statement, and outlining our goals.
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Group Mission Statement
The Microbes and Social Equity (MSE) Working Group posits that microbial exposures across ecosystems, urban and rural settings, and individuals are sociopolitical. Our purpose is to connect microbiology with social equity research, education, policy, and practice to understand the interplay of microorganisms, individuals, societies, and ecosystems. Collectively, we seek to generate and communicate knowledge that will spark evidence-based public policy and practice, supporting equity and sustainability for all.
How to get involved
The group is open and free to join. Our members work in various disciplines and fields, at all levels of career, and found across the globe. We host quarterly group meetings in which we discuss updates, ideas, and pitch ideas for new initiatives. All members are welcome to attend and to suggest new activities.
Members are encouraged to participate in the group at any level of task and time commitment that they choose. This includes organizing speakers for the seminar series or symposia, social media engagement, administrative support for group communications and organization, collaborative curriculum development, collaborative research, and conceptualizing the future directions of MSE.
Social Media
We have accounts on several social media platforms to engage with MSE group members and with everyone!
Additional Initiatives
Journal special collections, 2021 – 2023
We are in the preliminary stages of putting together a special collection with the scientific journal mSystems; Special Series: Social Equity as a Means of Resolving Disparities in Microbial Exposure.
Microorganisms are critical to many aspects of biological life, including human health. The human body is a veritable universe for microorganisms: some pass through but once, some are frequent tourists, and some spend their entire existence in the confines of our body tissues. The collective microbial community, our microbiome, can be impacted by the details of our lifestyle, including diet, hygiene, health status, and more, but many are driven by social, economic, medical, or political constraints that restrict available choices that may impact our health.
Many human clinical conditions or diseases have been established as being related to the state of the human microbiome. It is known that collective social inequity can drive the prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of some of these diseases or conditions. When access to a nutritious diet and healthcare are impeded by social inequity, these disparities can also affect the human microbiome; this can further contribute to reduced or poorly functioning microbiomes.
Access to resources is the basis for creating and resolving social equity—access to healthcare, healthy foods, a suitable living environment, and to beneficial microorganisms, but also access to personal and occupational protection to avoid exposure to infectious disease. The emergence of the SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically altered our daily lives and the availability and ability to access essential resources, which has been worsened by pre-existing social inequity. Yet, the pandemic has also highlighted the inherent social disparity among those more likely to be exposed to infectious diseases.
This collection highlights recent investigations into beneficial and detrimental instances of microbial exposure, in the context of how social policy may mediate or deepen disparities between and within populations.
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The Ishaq Lab 