A team of researchers from North Carolina State University (USA) has concluded that there are 2,368 different types of bacteria in the human navel, according to a genetic analysis published in the journal PLOS One . These are the first results of the "Navel Biodiversity" Project (http://www.wildlifeofyourbody.org/), dedicated to an area of the body that, according to the researchers, is "the portal through which we connect to our mothers, and the physical reminder of our evolutionary past. " In addition to being relatively isolated places where microbes are kept "safe" .
"By studying the navels we have identified a disturbing and immense richness of life: the middle navel of a human being is home to about 67 species, and among the 66 samples collected we found thousands of different species," said Rob Dunn, co-author of the study. Some of the bacteria identified turned out to be quite unexpected, such as one that also inhabits marine environments.
Of all the microbes analyzed, the role of eight bacteria stood out, which were present in more than 70% of the samples taken , and whose population represented 50% of the total samples.
The authors recall that, without these microbes, our immune system would not function properly , so their role is essential to protect us from external aggressions.
