Determining the impact of the microbiome on health and disease

The microbiome consists of all of the microorganisms found in and on our bodies. Advancements in sequencing technologies in the last two decades have identified the microbiome as a key player in maintaining our health, or homeostasis. The microbiome helps with several physiological processes including food digestion, immune system regulation, and pathogen defense. However, when the microbiome is in a perturbed or a “dysbiotic” state, homeostasis is lost, and this often predisposes and/or propagates disease. The presence of dysbiosis in diseases such as cancers and autoimmune disorders, highlights the importance of the microbiome in overall human health.