Trillions of microbes—bacteria, viruses, and fungi—live in and on our bodies. In fact, microbial cells outnumber human cells in our bodies 10 to 1. The vast universe of microbes within us is called the “microbiome” Scientists think that our microbiomes—as unique to each of us as a fingerprint—play an important role in health and disease. Normally, our microbes live in harmony with us, playing an essential role in keeping us healthy. But changes in our environment—diet, stress, use of antibiotics or other drugs—may make it hard for our microbes to adapt, putting our health at risk. To learn more, scientists are developing the first comprehensive map of the human microbiome. They hope that tinkering with our internal ecosystems might help prevent and treat a vast range of conditions—from diabetes to asthma to obesity.

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