Abstract
Microbiome science is revealing that the phenotype and health of animals, including humans, depend on the sustained function of their resident microorganisms. In this essay, I argue for thoughtful choice of model systems for human microbiome science. A greater variety of experimental systems, including wider use of invertebrate models, would benefit biomedical research, while systems ill-suited to experimental and genetic manipulation can be used to address very limited sets of scientific questions. Microbiome science benefits from the coordinated use of multiple systems, which is facilitated by networks of researchers with expertise in different experimental systems.
Highlights
Microbiome science is revealing that the phenotype and health of animals, including humans, depend on the sustained function of their resident microorganisms
Two linked factors play an important role in the appropriate choice of experimental systems for human microbiome research: history and purpose
There is a growing sense that the application of microbiome science for human health would be better served by the use of a greater range of experimental models by the biomedical community and, that fundamental discovery will be facilitated by a greater focus on systems that are experimentally tractable and amenable to the latest molecular techniques
Summary
Microbiome science is revealing that the phenotype and health of animals, including humans, depend on the sustained function of their resident microorganisms. Underlying the recent successes and excellent prospects for the discipline of microbiome science, there are, differences of opinion, especially concerning the utility of different experimental systems to advance our understanding and application of microbiomes for human health.
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