An organism’s microbiome is the aggregate of all the microbes located in and on the body. In people, there are more than a hundred thousand billion of them. That is ten times the number of cells that make up your own body. The total weight of all these microbes is about one and a half kilos.
An organism’s microbiome is the aggregate of all the microbes located in and on the body. In people, there are more than a hundred thousand billion of them. That is ten times the number of cells that make up your own body. The total weight of all these microbes is about one and a half kilos.
Fingerprint of microbes
The microbiome consists of all the bacteria, fungi, and archaea, living on and in an organism. Host organisms cannot survive without their microbes. Without our microbiome, we would not exist. The vast majority of our microbiome is made up of symbionts. A much smaller proportion are pathogens. The exact mix of microbes involved varies from one person to another. It depends on factors such as your genes, living environment and diet. Your microbiome is actually so specific that it is more unique than your fingerprint.
Brain-gut axis
Our microbiome is vital to the wellbeing of body and mind. Your gut microbes digest your food, train your immune system, produce vitamins and hormones, and protect against harmful bacteria. But they are also in close contact with your brain. This is known as the brain-gut axis. For instance, the stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori modifies your appetite by affecting your hormones. Without these bacteria you would be hungry more often. Your intestinal bacteria even control your state of mind.