Integrating human microbiome profiling into precision medicine for disease prevention
The human microbiome is a diverse and dynamic microbial community composed of trillions of microorganisms that inhabiting various body sites, such as the gut, skin, oral cavity, respiratory tract, and urogenital system. These microbial communities sustain the host’s physiological functions and health through interactions with immune, metabolic, and neurobiological processes. The microbiome has been extensively studied due to recent advancements in high-throughput genome sequencing and multi-omics technologies, which also demonstrated associations between microbial dysbiosis and a variety of metabolic, neurological, immune-mediated, cardiovascular, and infectious disorders. Simultaneously, precision medicine incorporates routine, environmental, and genetic variables to provide personalized solutions to disease prevention and treatment. The integration of microbiome research and precision medicine provide potential opportunities in early detection of diseases, risk stratification, and personalized therapeutic interventions. This narrative review identifies relevant literature from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using terms like “human microbiome,” “precision medicine,” “microbiome profiling,” “artificial intelligence,” and “disease biomarkers,” with emphasis on current English-language publications. The review study the diversity, structure, and functional roles of the human microbiome, and the current profiling technologies and their potential clinical uses. It also examines microbiome-directed approaches, including personalized nutrition, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation. Moreover, the document addresses ethical considerations, clinical challenges, artificial intelligence, and multi-omics integration. While microbiome profiling has significant potential in precision and preventive medicine, most applications are still investigational and need more validation before being implemented in clinical practice.