The human microbiome is a wonderland of microbiology that is filled with interactions between many microbes, including bacteria and even archaea, to aid the body in many processes or in some cases, to hurt it. The human microbiota consists of these interactions between the plethora of microorganisms and their corresponding genes within the human body, which is specifically known as the human microbiome. The manifestation of the human microbiome does not begin until the birth of an individual; however, the microbiome is not completely established until approximately three years of age. In addition, everyone’s microbiome is unique to themselves as individuals, as we are all exposed to different environmental factors and genetic predispositions. In fact, an individual who was delivered vaginally or even breastfed as an infant will have a vastly different microbiome than an individual who was delivered by caesarian section or formula fed. This is because the vaginal canal and breast milk exposes the newborn to bacteria and other microbes that are beneficial in establishing their own microbiome, of which an infant who wasn’t exposed to these microorganisms would lack.
There is plenty of information regarding the microbiome that is still unknown today, even though the Human Microbiome Project was established over thirteen years ago in 2007. However, this research escapade and further research on the interactions between these microbes and our bodies have allowed medical advances to solidify a new era of medicine. A prime example of a treatment resulting from research on the human microbiome would be fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT) procedure. FMT has been experimentally shown to cure an infection caused by Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) through the transplantation of fecal matter from a donor to the patient. This procedure works by using the microbes within the fecal matter of the donor to introduce new microorganisms to stabilize the microbiome of the patient who is facing an infection that has destabilized their own microbiome. This procedure was only first introduced in 2013, so there is still much research to be improved upon in understanding how this transplantation of microorganisms can readily treat a patient so effectively.
An additional way that the human microbiome is enhancing the health of individuals, would be the use of the microbiome in the identification of early signs of cancer. It has been studied and evidence has been provided to support the claim that alterations in the gut and oral microbiomes can indicate an early signs of specific cancers. For example, hepatocellular carcinoma is third on the list of cancers that has caused the most deaths, and it can be caught early in its progression through the observation of changes among the microorganisms within the individual. Microbial dysbiosis, or the dysfunction of the microbiome, among the gut and oral cavity specifically, can indicate that a change in the body has occurred that has caused the destruction of important microorganisms. This deterioration of the microbiome allows medical providers to assess possible causes of the dysbiosis, which can allow an early case of diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, to be detected in enough time for possible medical intervention. Overall, I believe that future research can be done with the focus upon the microbiome and possible disease treatment and prevention that can results from the manipulation and observation of the plethora of interactions between microbes within our own bodies.
ImmuniTEA Spill 