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The Human Microbiome

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The human microbiome is the community of prokaryotes inhabiting the skin and digestive tract, aiding digestion, producing nutrients, and helping train the immune system.

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Gut bacteria help digest food and produce certain vitamins that the human body cannot synthesize on its own.

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Disrupting this community, such as with heavy antibiotic use, can let a harmful species like Clostridium difficile overgrow unchecked.