Second genome times ten – the human microbiome and the future of medicine
The human gut microbiome, the community of bacteria, archaea, and other microorganisms inhabiting our intestines, has emerged as a critical factor in disease diagnosis and treatment stratification. Despite its recognized importance, it remains challenging to study due to its vast complexity and strong individual variability. At the same time, the microbiome offers a promising target for intervention: future biotherapeutics may deliberately reshape its composition to achieve therapeutic benefits. Even today, lifestyle changes, dietary interventions, and probiotics can influence it. By studying individualized responses to such interventions, we are beginning to uncover the principles that will enable the development of foundation models and, ultimately, digital twins of the microbiome.