Road MAPs to engineer host microbiomes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Road MAPs to engineer host microbiomes

AU - Oyserman, B. O.

AU - Medema, Marnix H

AU - Raaijmakers, J.M.

N1 - 6427, ME; Data archiving: no data (review)

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Microbiomes contribute directly or indirectly to host health and fitness. Thus far, investigations into these emergent traits, referred to here as microbiome-associated phenotypes (MAPs), have been primarily qualitative and taxonomy-driven rather than quantitative and trait-based. We present the MAPs-first approach, a theoretical and experimental roadmap that involves quantitative profiling of MAPs across genetically variable hosts and subsequent identification of the underlying mechanisms. We outline strategies for developing ‘modular microbiomes’ — synthetic microbial consortia that are engineered in concert with the host genotype to confer different but mutually compatible MAPs to a single host or host population. By integrating host and microbial traits, these strategies will facilitate targeted engineering of microbiomes to the benefit of agriculture, human/animal health and biotechnology.

AB - Microbiomes contribute directly or indirectly to host health and fitness. Thus far, investigations into these emergent traits, referred to here as microbiome-associated phenotypes (MAPs), have been primarily qualitative and taxonomy-driven rather than quantitative and trait-based. We present the MAPs-first approach, a theoretical and experimental roadmap that involves quantitative profiling of MAPs across genetically variable hosts and subsequent identification of the underlying mechanisms. We outline strategies for developing ‘modular microbiomes’ — synthetic microbial consortia that are engineered in concert with the host genotype to confer different but mutually compatible MAPs to a single host or host population. By integrating host and microbial traits, these strategies will facilitate targeted engineering of microbiomes to the benefit of agriculture, human/animal health and biotechnology.

KW - national

U2 - 10.1016/j.mib.2017.11.023

DO - 10.1016/j.mib.2017.11.023

M3 - Article

SN - 1369-5274

VL - 43

SP - 46

EP - 54

JO - Current Opinion in Microbiology

JF - Current Opinion in Microbiology

IS - June

ER -