Abstract

The human microbiome, a vast community of trillions of microorganisms inhabiting the body, plays a fundamental role in maintaining health and modulating disease. Once considered merely passive occupants, microbiota are now known to influence digestion, immunity, metabolism, and even neurological function. This article reviews the current understanding of the human microbiome, the technologies enabling its study, and its implications for conditions such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. It also addresses therapeutic approaches including probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and microbiome-based diagnostics, heralding a new era in personalized medicine.