Peg Riley Publishes the First Dedicated Undergraduate Textbook on the Human Microbiome
Content
Margaret “Peg” Riley, a professor in the College of Natural Sciences’s Department of Biology whose research focuses on microbial biology, recently published a new textbook, The Human Microbiome in Health and Disease: An Introduction, through Princeton University Press. This marks the release of the first undergraduate textbook dedicated entirely to the human microbiome.
“This project really grew out of my teaching,” explains Riley. “The more I taught about the human microbiome, the more I realized that this wasn’t simply a microbiology story—it was a human story. Our microbial communities are intimately connected to our development, our physiology, our health, and the environments in which we live. I wanted to create a book that would bring this rapidly developing science into the undergraduate classroom in a way that was rigorous, accessible, and, I hope, exciting for students.”
The study of the human microbiome began as a relatively small area of microbiology but has rapidly grown into a major field of research, transforming our understanding of the complex relationships between microbes and human health. The human gut microbiome plays a critical role in nearly every aspect of human health: every human body has trillions of microorganisms that interact with our physiology and have been associated with conditions ranging from allergic disease to metabolic and neurological disorders. As important as the gut microbiome is, students often learn very little about it. While many significant scientific advances have been made over the years, undergraduate students lack resources to explore the topic in depth. Riley’s introductory textbook aims to fill that gap by offering an in-depth analysis of how microbial inhabitants influence almost every aspect of our health, providing undergraduate students with an essential introduction to this growing field.
From the origins and evolution of microbial life and its long relationship with humans to the most recent microbiome research, Riley’s book explores this topic while applying real-world case studies and current clinical research to demonstrate how the microbiome influences obesity, autoimmune disorders, and other conditions.
Each chapter integrates many innovative research discoveries, including traditional and modern therapeutic approaches to restoring microbiome balance in the human body. In addition to the science behind the microbiome, the textbook emphasizes the relationship between diet and our gut microbiome health, displaying how nutritional choices can be a therapeutic and preventative measure, and defining emerging diagnostics and treatments.
“Studying the microbiome changes the way we think about ourselves,” argues Riley. “We tend to imagine the human body as an individual organism, but each of us is also an ecosystem, living in constant interaction with trillions of microorganisms. That perspective connects so many areas of a student’s education—from ecology and evolution to genetics, nutrition, medicine, and public health. It is also a wonderful way to teach students how science really works: evidence accumulates, ideas change, and exciting discoveries often raise as many questions as they answer.”
As research on the human microbiome continues to expand our understanding of gut health, Riley’s textbook provides students with an opportunity to discover this rapidly growing field. By bringing together key concepts, real-world applications, and current research, this book can support students in understanding the significance that the microbiome has in medicine and human health.
“I hope this book helps students see that the microbiome isn’t a specialized corner of microbiology—it is part of a much larger change in how we understand living systems,” Riley expressed. “We are learning that organisms don’t exist in isolation, but in continual relationship with complex microbial communities. My hope is that students carry that way of thinking into whatever field they pursue, and perhaps become part of the generation that answers some of the questions we are only beginning to ask.”
Learn more about Peg Riley’s new book, The Human Microbiome in Health and Disease: An Introduction.