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Microbiome

The microbiome is the collective community of trillions of microorganisms — bacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea — together with their genetic material, that inhabit the human body, particularly the gastrointestinal tract, skin, oral cavity, and respiratory system.

Type: Concept Domain: Biology Medicine Era: 2007 — present

Overview

These microbial communities exist in dynamic, largely symbiotic relationships with their host, regulating immune development, synthesizing vitamins B12 and K, modulating inflammation, and producing neuroactive compounds that influence mood and cognition through the gut-brain axis. Disruption of this balance — dysbiosis — has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, depression, and autoimmune conditions.

Why it matters

Research over the past two decades has fundamentally repositioned the microbiome from a biological curiosity to a central axis of human physiology, reshaping approaches to treatment and opening new avenues such as fecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent infections.

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