Microbiome

Human disease

Coevolution

Bioinformatics

Evolutionary biology

Biology

Gene

Function (biology)

Human Microbiome Project

Data science

Computer science

Computational biology

Human health

Genetics

Medicine

Reprogramming

Human microbiome

Environmental health

Chemical Reviews

The human microbiome is composed of a collection of dynamic microbial communities that inhabit various anatomical locations in the body. Accordingly, the coevolution of the microbiome with the host has resulted in these communities playing a profound role in promoting human health. Consequently, perturbations in the human microbiome can cause or exacerbate several diseases. In this Review, we present our current understanding of the relationship between human health and disease development, focusing on the microbiomes found across the digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive systems as well as the skin. We further discuss various strategies by which the composition and function of the human microbiome can be modulated to exert a therapeutic effect on the host. Finally, we examine technologies such as multiomics approaches and cellular reprogramming of microbes that can enable significant advancements in microbiome research and engineering.

Microbiome and Human Health: Current Understanding, Engineering, and Enabling Technologies