Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 22, 2025
11:22
Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
Published on: October 15, 2019
29.7K
Review article: the future of microbiome-based therapeutics
Emily L Gulliver1,2, Remy B Young1,2, Michelle Chonwerawong1,2
1Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|May 25, 2022
Summary
Harnessing the human microbiome offers novel therapeutic potential, moving beyond traditional fermented foods and probiotics. Advances enable targeted microbial manipulation for developing next-generation microbiome-based medicines.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Therapeutics
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- The health benefits of manipulating the human microbiota have been recognized for centuries, with examples including fermented foods and probiotics.
- Recent technological advancements are enabling targeted microbial manipulation for novel therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current and emerging developments in microbiome-based medicines.
- To provide insights into the necessary next steps for therapeutic development in this field.
Main Methods:
- Literature review using PubMed searches with keywords such as 'microbiome', 'probiotics', 'prebiotics', 'faecal microbiota transplant', and 'live biotherapeutics'.
- Assessment of the capabilities and limitations of current and emerging technologies for clinical interventions.
Main Results:
- An improved understanding of the human microbiome, coupled with technological progress, facilitates the development of new therapies.
- Therapeutic strategies include dietary interventions, prebiotics, probiotics, faecal microbiota transplants, live biotherapeutics, and microbiome mimetics.
Conclusions:
- While methods for refining microbiome-based therapeutics are advancing, new approaches require established technological and ethical frameworks.
- These frameworks are essential for measurement, testing, laboratory practices, and clinical translation of microbiome-based interventions.
