Microbiome and One Health in GCC countries: current status, research gaps, and future directions

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• One Health framework
• Environmental science

Background:

• Microbiome science is integral to the One Health framework, connecting human, animal, and environmental health.
• Global microbiome research has grown, but a comprehensive evaluation for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is missing.
• This review assesses microbiome research in GCC nations, identifies gaps, and evaluates One Health alignment.

Purpose of the Study:

• Characterize the landscape of microbiome research in GCC countries.
• Identify key research gaps and limitations in current studies.
• Propose a strategic framework for coordinated regional microbiome research development aligned with One Health principles.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
• Searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and EBSCO for studies up to January 31, 2025.
• Included original research from GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Bahrain) on human, animal, or environmental microbiomes.

Main Results:

• 110 studies were included: 49% human, 40% environmental, 11% animal microbiome research.
• Research output increased post-2020 but is unevenly distributed, with Saudi Arabia leading.
• Most studies were observational, using 16S rRNA sequencing, focusing on gut/oral (human), camels (animal), and soil/desert (environmental) microbiomes.
• No studies integrated human, animal, and environmental microbiomes within a One Health design.

Conclusions:

• Microbiome research in GCC countries is growing but fragmented across domains and lacks One Health integration.
• Significant disparities exist in research output among GCC nations.
• A coordinated regional strategy encompassing governance, infrastructure, funding, and workforce development is essential to advance microbiome research and its global health impact.