Local barriers configure systemic communications between the host and microbiota

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Host-Microbe Interactions
• Systems Biology

Background:

• The host microbiota, a dynamic microbial community, is crucial for host health.
• Microbe-host communication occurs via secreted molecules across physiological barriers.
• Omics methods have revealed numerous microbiota associations with host processes and diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the translational gap in microbiota research.
• To identify knowledge gaps regarding key microbial organisms, strain variations, and microbial metabolites.
• To emphasize the need for functional approaches to understand microbiota-host interactions.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing 'omics' data and literature.
• Discussion of challenges in functional microbiota research.
• Exploration of interkingdom interactions (bacteria, phages, protozoa, fungi).

Main Results:

• Despite advances, translational success in microbiota-based therapies remains limited.
• Significant knowledge gaps exist concerning specific microbial roles, strain importance, and metabolite functions.
• Interkingdom microbial interactions add complexity to microbiota-host dynamics.

Conclusions:

• Functional studies are essential for advancing microbiota research.
• Understanding the microbiota's chemical output and strain-level variations is critical.
• Unlocking the microbiota's therapeutic potential requires overcoming experimental challenges.