HUMAN MICROBIOMICS-DECODING THE MYSTERIES OF OUR PERMANENT GUESTS

The human body is inhabited by at least 10 times more bacteria than the number of human cells in the body. The various commensals include eubacteria, archaebacteria, and fungi, which together comprise human microbiome. These microbial assemblages are not only known to be vital for human health but also prevent the dangerous microbes from establishing a foothold. The gut is considered the primary site for cross-talk between the host immune system and microorganisms. Human Microbiome Project aims to identify a core human microbiome, a common set of commensal species that can be defined as a healthy microbiota. Indigenous microbiota are an essential component in the modern concept of human health, but the composition and functional characteristics of a healthy microbiome remain to be precisely defined.