Microbiome-based therapeutics
Abstract
Symbiotic microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract promote health by decreasing susceptibility to infection and enhancing resistance to a range of diseases. In this Review, we discuss our increasing understanding of the impact of the microbiome on the mammalian host and recent efforts to culture and characterize intestinal symbiotic microorganisms that produce or modify metabolites that impact disease pathology. Manipulation of the intestinal microbiome has great potential to reduce the incidence and/or severity of a wide range of human conditions and diseases, and the biomedical research community now faces the challenge of translating our understanding of the microbiome into beneficial medical therapies. Our increasing understanding of symbiotic microbial species and the application of ecological principles and machine learning are providing exciting opportunities for microbiome-based therapeutics to progress from faecal microbiota transplantation to the administration of precisely defined and clinically validated symbiotic microbial consortia that optimize disease resistance.
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It is difficult to predict and control the outcomes of microbiome manipulation by prebiotics because they affect the growth and activities of multiple microbial species.
“On the other hand, it is difficult to predict and control the outcomes of microbiome manipulation by prebiotics, as they affect the growth and activities of multiple microbial species.728,741”
From Microbiota–gut–brain axis and its therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases (2024) · cites this paper as [728]
FMT is most commonly applied in the management of Clostridioides difficile infection and inflammatory bowel disease.
“FMT is most commonly applied in the management of Clostridioides difficile infection and inflammatory bowel disease.728”
From Microbiota–gut–brain axis and its therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases (2024) · cites this paper as [728]
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- Authors
- Sorbara, M. T., & Pamer, E. G.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- Corresponding author
- Pamer, Eric G.
- Venue
- Nature Reviews Microbiology
- Published
- 2022-01-06
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 365-380
- ISSN
- 1740-1526 (ISSN-L)
- 1740-1534
- OpenAlex
- W4206010635
- Cited by
- 468
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 103 · 2025: 107 · 2024: 108 · 2023: 95 · 2022: 55
- FWCI
- 9.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nature Reviews Microbiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (FRN#152527)
- National Cancer Institute (P01CA023766)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI095706, U01AI124275, R01AI042135)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Keywords
- microbiota-based therapy, gut microbiota, fecal microbiota transplantation, bacterial consortium, prebiotics, diet, gut microbiota metabolites, disease resistance, clinical translation, regulatory challenges
- MeSH terms
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation, Health Promotion, Humans, Gastrointestinal Tract, Microbiota
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