Researchers at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, along with international collaborators, have introduced a novel method for identifying the crucial set of gut microbes commonly found in humans and essential for health. The researchers, whose study was published in Cell, said the discovery offers innovative opportunities for precision nutrition and personalized therapies aimed at managing chronic diseases associated with gut microbiome imbalances, including diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and cancer.
The core microbiome refers to a set of microbes in the digestive tract that play a critical role in maintaining functions such as digestion, immune defense and mental health. When the core microbiome is reduced or lost, it can lead to a condition known as dysbiosis – an imbalance between beneficial and harmful microbes in the gut. Dysbiosis has been linked to numerous chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic disorders, neurological conditions, chronic kidney disease and certain cancers.
Many studies have shown that the transfer of beneficial fecal microbiota from a healthy colon to a diseased colon can alleviate these conditions, strongly indicating that a core microbiome is crucial for maintaining our health. To read the full story.