Microbiome-based companion diagnostics: no longer science fiction?

In the last decade, our knowledge on the role of the gut microbiome in health and disease has greatly increased, accompanied by an unseen hype around both its diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Yet, one application area of the microbiome has thus far remained understudied: its role as guidance for therapeutic decisions, treatment monitoring and prediction of response. In this issue of Gut, Mondot et al1 investigate to what extent the microbiome can both inform us on as well as contribute to treatment outcome in resection surgery for Crohn's disease (CD). Although often the only resort next to dilatation,2 this intervention is not curative, with first-year endoscopic recurrence rates at 28–93% and frequent necessity of reoperation.3 As such, there is an important need for effective postoperative maintenance strategies and predictions for postoperative outcome. In a longitudinal study of both the faecal and mucosa-adherent microbiota...
Source: Gut - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: Open access Commentary Source Type: research