The Singular “Healthy Microbiome” Does Not Exist
Healthy human gut microbial communities exhibit differences in composition but share many of the same functions
Universal interest in human-associated microbial communities in recent decades has galvanized both citizens and researchers alike to probe, analyze, and perhaps even biohack our bugs in an effort to potentially improve quality of life and ameliorate disease. Many commercial companies offer a glimpse into the inner workings of your microbial inhabitants through the use of at-home testing kits while countless others present opportunities to shift the microbial balance in one’s favor through the use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, phages, helminths, quorum sensing inhibitors, immune modulators, skin creams, body washes, vaginal suppositories, and more. However, our enthusiasm to learn and tweak our microbial communities should be tempered with caution and humility concerning how much remains unknown.
The compositions of gut microbial communities are highly variable across populations
When it comes to composition, there is no one healthy reference human microbiome. What constitutes normal depends on host genetics, ancestry, sex, diet, geographical considerations…
