Final answer:
Microbes have been crucial for human health and disease management, aiding in digestion, nutrient production, and immune training, as well as in fermented food production. The range of infectious diseases has changed from the early 1900s to present, largely influenced by the development of antibiotics and vaccines, as well as emerging issues like drug resistance. Understanding of disease has evolved, with early insights significantly shaping modern biology and medicine.
Step-by-step explanation:
Microbes have played a significant role in the health and well-being of humans and remain crucial in both our environment and internal systems. Microorganisms are essential for digesting our food, producing vital nutrients, protecting us from pathogenic microbes, and training our immune system. These tiny life forms have also been harnessed by humans throughout history in the production of fermented foods such as beer, bread, cheese, and wine.
The types of infectious diseases present in humans, animals, and plants from 1900 to today have experienced significant shifts. While earlier eras dealt extensively with diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia, and influenza, modern society faces new challenges such as drug-resistant pathogens and the resurgence of certain diseases due to this resistance. Efforts for disease treatment and containment historically have been informed by limited but insightful understandings of microorganisms, even before the advent of the microscope, leading to early theorizations about the spread of disease and immunity. In the 20th century, the discovery and application of antibiotics and the development of vaccines have profoundly impacted the management of infectious diseases. However, with the misuse of these medical advancements, such as the overuse of antibiotics and pesticides, drug resistance has increasingly become an issue, complicating the global effort to control diseases.