The Microbiome & Microbial Science Research Area focuses on the numerous critical interactions of humans with the microbial world, in both health and disease. The diverse and cross-disciplinary faculty members of this research area apply fundamental principles of microbiology, immunology, molecular cell biology, pharmacology, -OMICs (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics) and systems biology to understand the composition and function of the human microbiome, and to elucidate the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of viral, bacterial fungal and parasitic infectious diseases.<br><br>The microbes that normally inhibit our gut, skin and mouth provide the vast majority of our body's gene content, and function to help us digest and process nutrients, while generating their own waste and metabolites. Importantly, these microbes constantly interact with, and help shape, our immune systems. It is now recognized that the makeup of our microbiome influences diverse diseases including food allergies, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, asthma and even the brain function and behavior. Microbial communities we encounter in the home, hospital and outdoor environments further influence our health status. Understanding our microbiome and its role in human health can inspire novel diagnostic, preventative and therapeutic interventions. Indeed, the rich chemical and metabolic diversity of the microbiome is itself a promising source for new drug discovery.