Indoor environments serve as habitat for humans and are replete with various reservoirs and niches for microorganisms. Microorganisms enter indoor spaces with their human and non-human hosts, as well as via exchange with outdoor sources, such as ventilation and plumbing. Once inside, many microorganisms do not survive, especially on dry, barren surfaces. Even reduced, this microbial biomass has critical implications for the health of human occupants. As urbanization escalates, exploring the intersection of the indoor environment with the human microbiome and health is increasingly vital. The indoor microbiome, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms influenced by human activities and environmental factors, plays a pivotal role in modulating infectious diseases and fostering healthy immune development. Recent advancements in microbiome research shed light on this unique ecological system, highlighting the need for innovative approaches in creating health-promoting living spaces. In this Review, we explore the microbial ecology of built environments — places where humans spend most of their lives — and its implications for immune, endocrine and neurological health. We further propose strategies to harness the indoor microbiome for better health outcomes.

室内环境是人类的栖息地，充满了各种微生物的储存库和生态位。微生物与其人类和非人类宿主一起进入室内空间，并通过与室外来源（如通风和管道）的交换进入室内空间。一旦进入，许多微生物就无法存活，尤其是在干燥、贫瘠的表面上。即使减少，这种微生物生物量也对人类居住者的健康具有重要影响。随着城市化进程的升级，探索室内环境与人类微生物组和健康的交集变得越来越重要。室内微生物组是一个复杂的微生物生态系统，受人类活动和环境因素的影响，在调节传染病和促进健康的免疫发育方面发挥着关键作用。微生物组研究的最新进展揭示了这种独特的生态系统，突出了创造促进健康的生活空间的创新方法的必要性。在这篇综述中，我们探讨了建筑环境（人类大部分时间生活的地方）的微生物生态学及其对免疫、内分泌和神经系统健康的影响。我们进一步提出了利用室内微生物组以获得更好的健康结果的策略。