Science & Nature

The Microbiome Revolution

How Trillions of Microbes Are Rewriting the Rules of Human Health

James Okafor

Microbiologist at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, studying the role of the gut microbiome in immune development and metabolic disease.

March 10, 2026·8 min read

The Microbiome Revolution

The human body harbors approximately 38 trillion microbial cells — roughly equal to the number of human cells. This vast community of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea, collectively known as the microbiome, influences everything from digestion and immunity to mood and cognition. Understanding it may be the key to treating diseases that have long resisted conventional medicine.

TOPICS

microbiomegut healthimmunityneurosciencemedicine

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