Questions to consider
• Can monitoring of the microbiome lead to prediction of disease?
• Can manipulation of the microbiome lead to prevention of disease?
Research in the gut microbiome
• Gut microbes play a key role in energy metabolism and alteration of gut microbes can lead to disease.
• Altering bacterial species may allow control over metabolic rate.
• The connection between microbes and obesity and type I diabetes is being explored.
• Bacterial species are used in C. difficile treatment and prevention. The microbiome will potentially play a large role in combating antibiotic resistance.
Questions to ask going forward
• What constitutes “normal” in the human microbiome?
• How does the manipulation of the microbiome affect health and disease?
• How can this information be applied to clinical practice?
More Articles on Gastroenterology:
Top 15 GI Diagnoses Leading to Outpatient Visits
Does Patient Satisfaction Affect Colorectal Cancer Treatment Outcomes?
The Role of Intestinal Bacteria in Colon Cancer Development: Q&A With Dr. Richard Zelner
