The human microbiome refers to the trillions of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa that inhabit our bodies, particularly our gastrointestinal tract. These microbes play an important role in human health and development. Recent advances in genomic sequencing and other technologies have enabled researchers to better characterize and study this complex microbial ecosystem in unprecedented detail. A growing body of research suggests that disruptions or imbalances to the microbiome may influence a wide range of health conditions. Understanding the human microbiome is an area of immense scientific interest with enormous potential implications for healthcare.
What is the human microbiome?
The human microbiome consists of all the microorganisms that reside on and within human tissues and biofluids, particularly within the gastrointestinal tract. The largest concentrations of microbes are found in the colon where hundreds of microbial species co-exist. Despite being vastly outnumbered by microbial cells in our bodies, the human genome still provides important cues that shape the microbial ecosystem. Factors like genetics, diet, lifestyle, environment and medical interventions all influence the development and diversity of an individual’s microbiome over the course of a lifetime.
Coherent Market Insights discusses what exactly constitutes the human microbiome, its functions and relationship to various health conditions in Human Microbiome Market.
Characterization of the microbiome
New DNA sequencing technologies have enabled scientists to characterize the human microbiome in unprecedented detail without having to culture individual bacterial species. Early microbiome studies relied on culturing techniques that revealed only a small fraction of our microbial inhabitants, while metagenomic sequencing analyzes all genetic material in a sample simultaneously. This has allowed researchers to develop comprehensive databases of microbial genes, species and functions present across body sites in health and disease. The NIH-led Human Microbiome Project conducted large-scale characterization of over 10,000 microbial genomes. Understanding the microbial composition of the gut and other body sites in health is a basis for investigating potential dysfunctions in disease.
Links to human health and diseas
An important focus of microbiome research is exploring the relationship between microbial community structures and human physiology as well as disease states. Disruptions or imbalances to the normal microbiota composition, known as dysbiosis, have been linked to various chronic inflammatory and metabolic conditions. For example, alterations to the gut microbiota have been implicated in bowel conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Changes in gut microbes have also been tied to diseases outside the gastrointestinal tract including obesity, diabetes, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. The microbiome is thought to influence disease risk and severity through various mechanisms like production of metabolites, modulation of immunity and regulation of epithelial barrier function.
Probiotics and prebiotics
Given the importance of the gut microbiota, there is interest in developing probiotic and prebiotic interventions to modulate its composition and activity for health benefits. Probiotics refer to live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health effect on the host. Popular probiotic supplements contain lactic acid bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that serve as fertilizer for the beneficial bacteria in our gut, stimulating their growth and metabolism. Some prebiotics include certain fibers, oligosaccharides and resistant starches. Research is evaluating the efficacy of probiotics and prebiotics in managing various clinical conditions and promoting general wellness.
Microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics
Characterizing an individual’s microbiome profile opens up opportunities for developing microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics. Researchers are exploring patterns in the gut microbiota that are uniquely associated with certain diseases as potential biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis. Fecalmicrobiota transplants using stool from healthy donors are also showing promise for treating recurrent C. difficile infections and may prove useful for additional conditions. Pharmaceutical companies are investigating live biotherapeutic products and synthetically derived microbial cell components to manipulate the microbiome and support human health. As microbiome science progresses, personalized diagnostics and targeted microbiome interventions are areas envisioned to translate to clinics.
Market Outlook
The global human microbiome market is poised for significant growth in the coming years as the potential links between gut health and disease continue to emerge. Asia Pacific region currently dominates the global market owing to increasing initiatives by research institutes and governments to support microbiome R&D. Factors like rising prevalence of chronic metabolic disorders, expanding probiotics and prebiotics industries as well as growing food and supplement markets are driving market revenues. While microbiome-based tools are still in early development stages, advancing technologies, reducing costs of sequencing and maturation of diagnostic applications are expected to drive further commercialization and market expansion in the next decade.
