The word parasite can conjure up fears of a bug that is out to harm us - Scenes from the movie 'Alien' may come to mind, and it might cause a feeling of panic if we see them present in our gut microbiome test results. However, are all parasites out to harm us? Is it possible that they are just a normal part of a thriving microbial community? In this workshop, we will discuss some of the common parasites found in the gut microbiome such as Blastocystis hominis and Dientamoeba fragilis, and look at the research around them, and how to look at them in the context of the whole ecosystem of the gut microbiome and a person's gut symptoms.