Library · Biological system
The human microbiome
Make it clearer
The microbiome is the community of microorganisms living in a given environment, and depending on how the word is used, it also covers their genetic material, the instructions written inside them, and what they do. It's worth clearing up a common misunderstanding: not everything living there is bacteria. That community also includes fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms.
It's not the same community throughout the body, either. The one in the gut, the one on the skin, and the one in the mouth all have different makeups, like neighborhoods in the same city with residents who have little in common. In research, the microbiome shows up linked to body functions and to diseases, but two things showing up together isn't enough, on its own, to say the microbiome is what causes them.
In brief
The microbiome is the community of microorganisms in an environment and, depending on how the term is used, may also include their genetic material and activity. It is not made up of bacteria alone; it can include fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms.
Its composition varies from one part of the body to another, including the gut, skin, and mouth.
Studies have found associations between the microbiome, bodily functions, and disease, but an association alone does not show that the microbiome is the cause.
Sources (2)
- National Institute of General Medical SciencesWhat Is the Microbiome?Published
- National Center for Biotechnology InformationThe Human Microbiome: Frequently Asked Questions
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated