Human microbiome variance is underestimated

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Human health
• Genetics and ethnicity

Background:

• Significant unexplained variance exists in the human microbiome.
• Current microbiome data predominantly comes from developed countries, potentially biasing health and disease interpretations.
• Under-representation of minority groups limits understanding of microbiome diversity and disease risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of ageing and ethnicity on human microbiome variance.
• To highlight the potential of microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics by addressing knowledge gaps.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent progress in microbiome research focusing on ageing and ethnicity.
• Analysis of existing human microbiome datasets with attention to demographic factors.

Main Results:

• Ageing and ethnicity are identified as key contributors to microbiome variance.
• These factors offer crucial insights into the microbiome's role in health and disease.

Conclusions:

• Understanding microbiome variance in diverse populations, including different age groups and ethnicities, is critical.
• Further research into ageing and ethnicity's influence can advance microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics.