What is Microbiome Richness?
The human body is full of microorganisms, which are mainly found in the gut. These microorganisms (along with their genetic information) are collectively referred to as the microbiome. The microbiome consists of microbes that are both helpful and potentially harmful. Most of these microbes are symbionts, meaning that they participate in a mutually beneficial relationship with their host, and they play an essential role in healthy functioning. However, a few microbes are pathogenic and have the potential to cause disease. Microbiome richness refers to the total number of microbial species found in the microbiome. It is also a scale to determine the sub total impact of the microbes present in the gut at that particluar time. Diet, environment, exposure to pathogens etc. can all affect the richness of the microbiome.
Microbiome Richness Scale
