A new study, part of the Integrative Human Microbiome Project, followed 132 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for one year in order to generate longitudinal molecular profiles of host and microbial activity. This constitutes the most comprehensive description to date of host and microbe activities in IBD. 

The inability of some infant microbiomes to perform carbohydrate metabolism may be a factor in the development of allergies later in life. Metagenomic analysis of the microbiomes of human infants who went on to develop allergies revealed a lack of genes encoding for carbohydrate breakdown and butyrate production, pointing to the potential importance of this pathway during early infancy in protecting against the later onset of allergies.  

Highlights of a meeting where world experts discussed the latest knowledge regarding the microbiome and aging.  

The Microbiome Insights team was pleased to visit Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing on Emory University campus in August to lead a 2-day workshop  

Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) often occur together, and metabolic disease is linked to alterations in the gut microbiome but the changes associated uniquely with obesity versus T2D have been unclear. 

Accurate information on microbiome function and high-resolution taxonomy is very valuable for microbiome studies—but the high cost of shotgun metagenomic sequencing can be a barrier. 

The multitudes of microbes living within soil are massive players in global carbon levels, as collectively they are responsible for the cycling of huge amounts of organic carbon. 

Differences in the gut microbiome are being linked with more and more types of chronic diseases. Everything from immune disorders to mental health conditions are showing some link to alterations in the microbiome, with great anticipation that the research may reveal how the gut microbiome plays a causal role in some of these conditions.