ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Human virome

Okay, so you know how we have lots of tiny creatures living in our bodies that we can't see called germs? Well, some of those germs are viruses and they make up something called the human virome.

The human virome is like a really big puzzle that scientists are still trying to figure out. It is made up of all the viruses that live in and on our bodies. We can't see them, but they are there!

Some of these viruses are helpful and some can make us sick. The helpful viruses help keep bad germs away and help our bodies work properly.

Scientists think that the human virome is an important part of our health and that it can affect things like how well our immune system works and even our mental health.

So, just like we need to take care of our bodies by eating healthy food and washing our hands, we also need to take care of our virome by keeping our bodies healthy and avoiding things that can make us sick. And scientists are working hard to learn even more about the human virome to help keep us healthy!