What Is the Microbiome?

Have you ever noticed a skin care product advertised as “microbiome friendly” and wondered what that meant? The microbiome is the collection of all the microbes—including bacteria, viruses, and fungi—that live in a specific environment, such as on the skin or in the digestive tract. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterial species commonly found in the human intestine. While some strains of E. coli cause foodborne illness, others are helpful members of the gut microbiome.Credit: Mark Ellisman and Thomas Deerinck, National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego. It’s a common misconception that all microbes are harmful—in truth, much of the human microbiome is made up of microbes that form beneficial symbiotic relationships with us. Microbiome-friendly skin care products don’t have antimicrobial properties that could harm the beneficial bacteria that live on our skin. Your Microbiome and You There are many ways that your microbiome affects your health, including supporting digestion. Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet, but humans don’t have the enzymes needed to fully break down their tough starches. Instead, specific species of bacteria that live in the large intestine break down those plant starches to extract the nutrients for our benefit. The gut microbiome also plays an important role in controlling the immune system. Gut bacteria produce anti-inflammatory molecules that...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Cells Common questions Microbes Microbiome Source Type: blogs