The Microbiome and the Thinking Gut

Virtually all humans live in close association with surrounding microbes, like all multicellular organisms are inhabited by a vast number of organisms, namely bacteria, archaea, viruses, and unicellular eukaryotes. Especially that group of microorganisms that live in peaceful coexistence with their hosts are specifically grouped as microbiota, microflora, or normal flora. Interestingly, the most heavily colonised group is the Gut microbiomes. When considering such a hidden group of intelligence, one is reminded of Hippocrates, who said “death sits in the bowels” and “bad digestion is the root of all evil” way back in 400 BC. This sector of the human gut microbiome has made tremendous progress, rapidly moving from scientific curiosity to the clinical frontier. However, amid the wave of research projects, their publications, use of probiotics and promises of precision, one truth demands emphasis: we are interpreting an ecosystem much more complex than we are prepared to control. Before we set the target, namely, the gut microbiome and fix it, it is a system to be understood.