American Society for Microbiology Nov 6 2025 Nearly 20 million people die every year from cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death worldwide. Genetic and environmental factors influence a person's risk of disease and severity, but microbes likely also play a critical role, particularly in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent studies suggest the gut microbiota contributes to the progression of CAD through diverse pathways, but the specific contributions of bacteria