Roommates Share 26% of Mouth Bacteria Strains, Couples Reach 44%
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · Jun 16
Roommates Share 26% of Mouth Bacteria Strains, Couples Reach 44%
3 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Jun 16
Summary
430 people across 207 households in Italy and Fiji showed strong microbiome overlap among cohabitants, with roommates sharing 19% of gut strains and 26% of mouth strains.
Non-roommates in the same communities shared just 6% of gut strains and no mouth strains, pointing to household contact—not just local environment—as a major source of microbial exchange later in life.
Romantic partners living together shared 44% of mouth microbiome strains, which researchers said likely reflects more intimate contact such as kissing.
Several of the most transmissible strains were linked to type 2 diabetes, poor heart health, colorectal cancer or opportunistic infections, suggesting shared microbes could carry health consequences as well as harmless overlap.