The human microbiome is the collection of all the microorganisms that live on or in the human body. It includes bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The microbiome has a big impact on human health. It helps to break down food, produce vitamins, and protect against harmful germs.
The microbiome is very important for babies. They are born without any microbes in their gut. But soon after birth, they start to pick up microbes from their environment. These microbes help to protect the baby’s gut and develop their immune system.
The composition of the microbiome changes as we age. In childhood, the microbiome is dominated by Bacteroides and Firmicutes. But in adulthood, there are more Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria . This change may be due to diet and lifestyle choices . For example , people who eat a lot of meat tend to have more Proteobacteria in their gut than vegetarians .
There is still much we don’t know about the microbiome. We don’t know why some people have different types of microbes in their gut or how these differences affect health . But researchers are working hard to learn more about this fascinating area of science .