What can we expect from emerging technologies in microbiome era?

摘要

The human gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota includes a plethora of fungi, viruses, bacteria and protists. The microbiome includes all the genes inside these microbial cells. Microbiota plays a critical role in the health of the host influencing maturation of immune system, prevention from pathogenic infection, maintenance of intestinal physiology, fermentation of undigested polysaccharides, synthesis and conversion of bioactive compounds. Perturbation of the GI microbiota (called dysbiosis) as a result of diet, drug intake or environmental changes can result in severe health challenges such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), obesity, cancer and inflammatory disorders. Furthermore, a wide spectrum of extra-GI abnormalities has been attributed to dysbiosis.