THE PRESENT CHALLENGES AND THE FUTURE OF MICROBIOME-BASED INTERVENTIONS
Keywords:
microbial-based therapeutics, microbiome biomarkers, probiotics, prebiotics, ‘fecal microbiota transplant (FMT)’, ‘live biotherapeutics’, ‘microbiome method, postbiotics.Abstract
There is a growing interest in microbiome therapeutics (MBTs) because of the established correlation between the microbiome and host health. The gut microbiome is enriched with functional microorganisms and their metabolites that maintain homeostasis within the gut of healthy individuals. In cases of dysbiosis, it may result in disease onset and progression. The microbiome variability between individuals based on human experiences and the bi-directional reciprocal relationship between gut microbiome and drugs grounds the use of MBTs in manipulating the microbiome for therapeutic advantages. Chiefly, microbial therapy overcomes the limitations of conventional treatments due to its potential in precision medicine. Despite the promising therapeutic and economic potential, MBT application is faced with challenges that impact clinical translation. This narrative review analyzes the current state of research on microbiome therapeutics, the present challenges, and insights into the future of MBTs. Herein, we present a summary of current insights of the human microbiome, and the various applications in dietary and clinical settings including Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT), live biotherapeutics, bacteriophages, and antimicrobials. All microbiome species within the gut were given attention in this study to provide a holistic understanding of their roles in MBTs.