Skip to main content

Microbial Intelligence

Meaning

The collective, adaptive, and highly communicative functional capacity of the trillions of microorganisms residing within the human host, primarily in the gut, to profoundly influence systemic physiology and host behavior. This “intelligence” refers to the microbiome’s ability to sense the environment, produce bioactive molecules, and modulate the host’s endocrine, immune, and nervous systems, notably through the well-established gut-brain axis. It underscores the profound symbiotic relationship and co-regulatory role of the microbiota in maintaining human health and homeostasis.