The fungi living in the body play an important role in health – here’s what you should know about the ‘mycobiome’

The most common fungal species found in our mycobiome are yeast from the _Candida_ family. Kateryna Kon/ Shutterstock

The “gut microbiome” has become a popular health term in recent years. It’s easy to see why, with an abundance of research showing how important the trillions of microbes living in our gut are for health.

But what many people might not realise is that the microbiome doesn’t only contain bacteria. It also contains other types of microbes – including fungi. The fungal component of the microbiome is called the “mycobiome”.