The field of microbiome research took off with the appearance of next-generation sequencing, allowing deep sampling of microbial communities without culturing. As a result there is a growing appreciation of the widespread impact of the human microbiome on health and disease in areas as disparate as gastrointestinal or mental health. New concepts such as therapeutic microbiome transplants are gaining acceptance, and traditional concepts such as probiotics and prebiotics are taking on new significance. Mining of the microbiome for small molecule natural products is in its infancy. Analytic techniques for describing microbial community structure are offering new options for diagnostics. Taken together, these represent some of the game-changing medical treatments emerging from the brave new world of microbiome research.
Submitted by John Curtis on March 23, 2015