The community of microorganisms and their genetic material that inhabit a particular environment, such as the human body.
The human body hosts diverse communities of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms, on and within sites such as the skin, mouth, and gastrointestinal tract. Different body sites have different microbial communities, shaped by factors such as diet, age, environment, medications, and health conditions.
The microbiome can influence digestion, metabolism, development of the immune system, and protection against some harmful microorganisms. Its relationship with human health is complex: microorganisms can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful depending on the organism, its location, and the circumstances.
QUICK FACT
“Microbiome” and “microbiota” are closely related but are not exactly synonymous. Microbiota generally refers to the microorganisms living in a particular environment, while microbiome can refer to those microorganisms together with their collective genetic material.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Microbiota: Microbiota refers primarily to the community of microorganisms itself; microbiome is commonly used more broadly to include the microorganisms and their collective genetic material.
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