PrefaceChapter 1. It comes to us all **
Chapter 2. A rich bag of goodies - the human body as a source of
nutrients2.1 What types of tissues are present in my body? 2.1.1
Epithelial tissue - keeping it all together2.1.2 Connective tissue - our
support system 2.1.3 Muscle tissue - standing and moving2.1.4 Nervous
tissue - "I've got a feeling" (thank you Beatles) 2.2 But what are all
these tissues made up of?2.2.1 Small is beautiful, but big is also very
important 2.2.2 Structures of the main macromolecules in humans 2.2.3
Where are macromolecules found in human tissues?2.3 How available to
microbes and insects are the nutrients present in the human body? 2.4
And then, of course, we shouldn't forget that brown, smelly stuff 2.5
Want to know more?
Chapter 3. Our life-long microbial companions - who are they and what do
they get up to while we're alive?3.1 What are microbes? 3.1.1 What is
the definition of a microbe? 3.1.2 So, how are these six types of
microbes different from each other?3.1.3 They're so small so they must
be very simple creatures?3.1.4 How do we identify the various types of
microbes? 3.2 Meet my best friends - my microbiota3.2.1 How many
microbes live on me?3.2.2 Do all parts of my body have the same
microbes?3.2.3 Which microbes live in my gut?3.2.3.1 Microbes that live
in our mouth 3.2.3.2 Microbes that live in our stomach3.2.3.3 Microbes
that live in our small intestine 3.2.3.4 Microbes that live in our large
intestine3.2.4 Which microbes live on my skin? 3.2.5 Which microbes live
in my respiratory system?3.2.6 What about the microbes that live at
other body sites?3.3 How do we manage to co-exist with our
microbiota?3.4 Want to know more?
Chapter 4. Not a pretty picture - our appearance after death4.1 How
can we find out what happens to a body after death?4.2 The decomposition
of a human corpse follows a predictable pattern4.3 What are the various
stages involved in decomposition?4.3.1 The fresh stage - 0 to 3 days
after death 4.3.2 The bloat stage - 2 to 6 days after death4.3.3 The
stage of active decay - 5 to 11 days after death4.3.4 Advanced decay (or
post-decay) stage - 10 to 25 days after death4.3.5 Skeletal decay
stage - >25 days after death 4.4 The smell of death - "I think, I
think, I smell a stink, it comes from y...o...u" 4.5 Factors that affect
the rate of decomposition4.6 Where's my mummy?4.7 Want to know more?
Chapter 5. The great betrayal - our own cells and our symbionts turn
against us**5.1 It all starts with autolysis - the damage is
self-inflicted5.2. And now the microbes can take over5.3. It all comes
down to ecology5.4. Ch...Ch....Ch....changes (with thanks to David
Bowie)5.5. Mass migration - a world (or, at least, a corpse) without
borders 5.6. Knock, knock - who's there?5.6.1. A general overview - the
broad-brush approach5.6.2. What happens to specific organs?5.6.2.1. What
happens in your mouth?5.6.2.2. What happens in your gut?5.6.2.3. What
happens to your skin?5.6.2.4. What happens in your brain?5.6.2
