RESEARCH FIELD

Microbiome Research

Microbiome research investigates the diverse communities of microorganisms — bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, and protozoa — inhabiting specific environments including the human gut, skin, oral cavity, lung, soil, ocean, and built environments. The gut microbiome has emerged as a major determinant of human health, influencing immunity, metabolic diseases, neurological conditions, and the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Soil microbiomes drive nutrient cycling, plant health, and soil carbon sequestration. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing provides culture-independent access to the genomic content of entire communities, while culturomics recovers the previously uncultured majority. Germ-free mouse and zebrafish models enable mechanistic dissection of host-microbiome interactions. The microbiome field is being transformed by integration with host genomics, longitudinal multi-omics datasets, and the development of next-generation probiotics and faecal microbiota transplantation therapies. Funding comes from NIH, the Wellcome Trust, the Human Microbiome Project continuation, and the microbiome biotech investment community.