The human microbiome is a relatively novel area of therapeutic exploration. The collective term for the micro-organisms that exist within the human body, particularly in the gastrointestinal system and the skin, the microbiome serves a range of functions including aiding the metabolic processes, protecting against pathogens and interacting with the immune system. (Also see "‘Bugs As Drugs’ Approach To Cancer Nears Advanced Development" - In Vivo, 19 January, 2022.)
Imbalances in the microbiome can cause a range of illnesses, offering potential for microbiome-based therapeutics in areas ranging from infectious...