Novel opportunities for the exploitation of host-microbiome interactions in the intestine

New sequencing technologies have dramatically increased our knowledge on the composition of the human intestinal microbiota in health and disease. In parallel, various omics as well as focused molecular studies have revealed novel insights in host-microbiome interactions at the cellular and molecular level. Although these studies are mainly descriptive, advanced microbiota-targeting intervention strategies are being explored, ranging from the selection of novel probiotic strains and synthetic stool substitutes, toward the better monitoring of prebiotic and dietary interventions. It can be envisaged that the efficacy of microbiota interventions will depend on the status of the microbiota of an individual at baseline, but also on genetic and physiological host parameters that determine the capacity to interact with microbes via specific receptors.