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What is the Microbiome?

  • About the Project
  • What is the Microbiome?

What is the Microbiome?

Definition of the Microbiome

The term microbiome is a portmanteau of microbiota (the microbial community) and genome. It refers to both the microorganisms found in a specific environment and all of their genetic information. The human microbiome describes the ecosystem of trillions of microbes residing within the human body. It plays a critical role in the onset, progression, and severity of various diseases—including metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes, obesity), autoimmune diseases (e.g., psoriasis, allergies, inflammatory bowel disease), and neurological disorders (e.g., depression, autism).

Classification Indicator
Number of microorganisms Approx. 39 trillion microbes in the human body
Percentage of microorganisms 95% of the microbes in the digestive system
Genes in gut bacteria 150 times more bacterial genes in the gut than human genes
Body weight ratio Microbiome accounts for 1-3% of body weight

*Source: Planning Report for the Hospital-based Human Microbiome R&D Project (KHIDI)

Key Functions of the Microbiome

Although the microbiome accounts for only 1-3% of body weight, it plays a vital role in the human body by influencing nutrient absorption, drug metabolism, immune regulation, and neurodevelopment.

  • Digestive system : Approximately 95% of the human microbiome (including the intestines)
  • Other body sites : Widespread distribution in the respiratory system, reproductive organs, oral cavity, and skin; microbial composition and diversity varying by body site
Function Description
Nutrient Absorption Variation in nutrient absorption based on microbiome composition (even with identical nutrient intake)
Drug Metabolism Regulation Protection from harmful substances (e.g., drugs and carcinogens)
Immune Regulation Immune-mediated defense against pathogenic microbes
Neurodevelopment Influence of microbial metabolites on brain development and behavior regulation

*Source: Planning Report for the Hospital-based Human Microbiome R&D Project (KHIDI)

Scope of Microbiome-based Products and Services

The microbiome market: Health functional products, therapeutic development, and diagnositc tools and services.

Category Description
Functional Products Products employing probiotics and prebiotics for gut microbiota balance and functional enhancement
(e.g., dietary supplements, cosmetics).
Therapeutics Development Therapeutic development based on the correlation between the gut microbiome and various diseases
(covering fields from gastrointestinal disorders to cancer, obesity, diabetes, oral diseases, hepatitis, and skin conditions)
Diagnostics & Services Diagnostic marker development using disease-specific imbalances in gut microbiome composition
(i.e., differences in the balance between commensal and harmful bacteria in patients versus healthy individuals)