THE HUMAN MICROBIOME GROWS UP: FROM THE FRINGES OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, TO BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY
In recent years, the human microbiome has been enjoying a moment in the sun.
Before the world-changing events of early 2020, the microbiome was one of the current hot topics in terms of medical and scientific research – a simple google search returns millions of results, including the most celebrated scientific journals, the most-read print media and countless businesses, bloggers and predictions of where microbiome research is heading. But what is the microbiome, what is the science behind it and how does ADM feature in this rapidly-growing global business?
The term ‘microbiome’ refers to all of the microorganisms – that’s bacteria, viruses and yeasts, plus other less-well-known organisms called archaea – and all of their genetic material, found in a particular ecological niche. For example there is a gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome, a lung microbiome and a skin microbiome. All of these distinct microbial habitats involve complex interactions between the host (in this case that’s us, humans) and these microorganisms. Historically these microorganisms were divided into “benign” and “pathogenic” i.e. harmless and harmful. But this dichotomy is far too simplistic. The intricate interactions of these microorganisms, their metabolites, the ecological niches they inhabit and the way they interact with their human hosts all combine to produce a momentous array of effects: simply put, these microorganisms can affect the health of their human hosts.1
In the 20th Century, certain groups of bacteria were identified as ‘good’ bacteria because of their beneficial effects on health – and the term ‘probiotic’ was coined. The World Health Organisation defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”. But again, this is an overly simplistic interpretation. In recent years, analytical techniques have advanced enormously, allowing the scientific community to better understand the layers of complexity of the human microbiome and how manipulation of our microbial residents can influence health and disease.
THE INTRICATE INTERACTIONS OF THESE
MICROORGANISMS, THEIR METABOLITES, THE ECOLOGICAL NICHES THEY INHABIT AND THE WAY THEY INTERACT WITH THEIR HUMAN HOSTS ALL COMBINE TO PRODUCE A MOMENTOUS ARRAY OF EFFECTS: SIMPLY PUT, THESE MICROORGANISMS CAN AFFECT THE HEALTH OF THEIR HUMAN HOSTS.
20 | ADMISI - The Ghost In The Machine | Q2 Edition
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