Microbiome

The varied community of microorganisms that live in different parts of the body, particularly the gut, is referred to as the human microbiome. These microorganisms are mostly bacteria, but they can also be viruses, fungi, and archaea. These microbial communities are vital for immune regulation, nutrition synthesis, digestion, and pathogen defense. Metagenomics research has shown that homeostasis depends on a healthy, diverse microbiome, whereas dysbiosis, or imbalances in the microbiome, is linked to a variety of illnesses, such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, and neuropsychiatric disorders. The field of microbiome research is growing quickly, providing new information on diet-microbe interactions, probiotic treatments, and personalized medicine.

Scalp Microbiome Explained: What’s Living on Your Scalp and Why It Matters

The scalp microbiome comprises diverse bacteria, fungi, and yeast that interact with sebum, pH, and immune responses to maintain scalp health. Microbial imbalances are increasingly linked to conditions such as dandruff, hair loss, and inflammation, making the scalp microbiome a target for novel therapeutic approaches.

Microbiome and Disease

Insight into the Skin Microbiome

Is There a Link Between Migraine and the Gut Microbiome?

Is There a Brain Microbiome?

Microbiome-Host Cell Interactions

Skin Microbiota

Menopause and the Microbiome

Gut Microbiota

The Microbiome and Aging

Fermented Foods and Gut Health

Conjunctiva microbiota

See more featured articles »

Oral Microbiota

Vaginal Microbiome and Premature Birth

Microbiome and Cancer

How “Fad” Diets Affect the Gut Microbiota

Disease Susceptibility and the Microbiome

Drug Metabolism and Microbiome

Antibiotics and the Microbiome

Fecal Microbiota Transplant Regulation

Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs) and the Microbiome

Can you Treat a Food Allergy by Altering the Gut Microbiome?

The Effect of Intermittent Fasting on the Gut Microbiome

Fecal Microbiota Transplant

Human Microbiome

Fecal Microbiota Transplant Technique

Does the Microbiome Interact with the Human Endocrine System?

Do Serotonin and Antidepressants Affect the Microbiome?

Parkinson's Disease and the Gut Microbiome

Genetic Factors that Influence Bacterial Diversity in the Human Gut

Risk Factors for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

Alzheimer's Disease and the Microbiome

What Role do Microbiomes Play in Urinary Tract Infections?

What Role Does the Immune System and Microbiome Play in Health and Disease?

Human Microbiome Project (HMP)

Achievements of the Human Microbiome Project

Is Coffee Good for the Gut?

What is the Human Virome?

How Does Your Diet Affect your Gut Microbiome?

Effects of a Gluten-Free Diet on the Gut Microbiota

What is Vaginal Microbiome?

Gut Bacteria and Autism Development

How Artificial Sweeteners Disrupt the Gut Microbiome, Or Do They?

How Does the Diet Impact Microbiota?

The Microbiome of a Newborn

Latest Microbiome News and Research

Microbial DNA signature in the blood differentiates primary liver cancer from metastatic colorectal cancer

Determining whether a cancerous tumor originated in a given location or spread there from another tissue or organ in the body is important when assessing the likely course of a patient's disease.

14 Aug 2025

Microbes found to play a key role in shaping early brain development

New research from Michigan State University finds that microbes play an important role in shaping early brain development, specifically in a key brain region that controls stress, social behavior, and vital body functions.

13 Aug 2025

Study finds two-way link between gut bacteria and insomnia

There seem to be reciprocal links between certain groups of gut bacteria and the risk of insomnia, suggests a Mendelian randomization study, published in the open access journal General Psychiatry.

12 Aug 2025

Nudibranchs (sea slugs) emerge as a promising source of cancer drugs

Researchers reviewed the antitumor potential of bioactive compounds from nudibranchs, marine mollusks that acquire or synthesize potent chemical defenses. These compounds, often sourced from their diet, show promising cancer-fighting activity through mechanisms like DNA damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

12 Aug 2025

Powerful optical technique can analyze the biochemical fingerprints of vaginal fluid

Vaginal health is tightly linked to the balance of bacteria in the microbiome, especially certain species of Lactobacillus.

12 Aug 2025

Natural gut molecule reverses liver damage and repairs gut lining

UC Davis Health researchers have discovered that a natural molecule made by gut bacteria can reverse liver damage and repair the gut lining after aflatoxin exposure.

12 Aug 2025

Cutting HFSS ultra-processed foods may save lives, says AHA report

The American Heart Association’s new science advisory links high consumption of ultra-processed foods to increased cardiometabolic risks and mortality, urging targeted reduction of HFSS UPFs. The report also calls for policy reforms, equity-focused strategies, and further research into mechanisms beyond nutrient content.

11 Aug 2025

How early immune challenges influence oral and systemic health in children

Once viewed only as infectious invaders, bacteria are now understood to play an important role in overall health.

8 Aug 2025

Gut bacteria may connect pregnancy diet to childhood autism

Unhealthy maternal diets may alter gut microbes, impacting brain development and increasing autism risk in offspring. Study the microbiome's influence.

8 Aug 2025

Mediterranean diet delivers gut health benefits for expectant mothers

A Mediterranean diet during pregnancy significantly alters the maternal gut microbiome, increasing beneficial bacteria, while a mindfulness-based stress reduction program shows more limited effects. Neither intervention affected the vaginal microbiome, and the clinical significance of these changes requires further study.

6 Aug 2025

Immune aging drives the progression of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global metabolic epidemic driven by insulin resistance (IR), chronic inflammation, and β-cell failure.

6 Aug 2025

Gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids influence bone health in postmenopausal osteoporosis

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is framed as a systemic bone disease driven by estrogen withdrawal, but emerging evidence positions gut dysbiosis and its fermentation products—short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—as equally influential regulators of skeletal fate.

6 Aug 2025

Lupus Research Alliance awards early career scientists for innovative research

Today, the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA), the world's largest private funder of lupus research, announced the recipients of the 2025 Empowering Lupus Research (ELR) Career Development Award and Postdoctoral Award.

5 Aug 2025

Fecal transplant may cut infections in long-term care patients

Fecal microbiota transplantation in long-term care patients shows safety and potential to lower infection rates, despite persistent drug-resistant colonization.

5 Aug 2025

Chemical in everyday products found to worsen alcohol-related liver damage

Have you ever wondered why some people who drink alcohol develop serious liver problems while others don't? A study from University of Louisville researchers published in May in Toxicological Sciences suggests that the answer might be hidden in everyday sources such as drinking water, food packaging or even non-stick cookware.

4 Aug 2025

Mouth and gut microbes talk to each other - here’s why it matters for disease

Researchers reviewed nearly 250 studies to uncover how the oral and gut microbiomes communicate through multiple pathways, influencing the risk of diseases such as IBD, colorectal cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. The review highlights that maintaining oral health and dietary habits is crucial for overall systemic wellbeing.

4 Aug 2025

Impulsivity shapes diet and gut bacteria in healthy adults, study finds

Impulsivity in healthy adults is linked to unhealthy dietary choices, such as higher intake of alcohol and sugary drinks and lower fiber consumption. These dietary behaviors, in turn, are associated with changes in specific gut bacterial genera, highlighting an indirect pathway between personality traits and the gut microbiome.

4 Aug 2025

AI spots hidden diabetes risk even when test results look normal

Researchers used continuous glucose monitoring and multimodal data from over 3,000 people to reveal hidden patterns in glucose spikes across normoglycemia, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Their AI-driven model exposed high individual variability and offers a personalized path for early detection and prevention of diabetes.

3 Aug 2025