What Defines a Healthy Microbiome?
In this episode, Professor Emad El-Omar, Microbiome Research Centre (UNSW, Sydney) shares insights from his recent review in Gut, co-authored with international experts, exploring what constitutes a “healthy” gut microbiome.
The paper highlights progress toward identifying a core microbiome—defined more by function than composition—shared among healthy individuals worldwide, including centenarians. While a universal definition remains elusive, functional resilience and diversity may be key indicators of gut health.
Professor El-Omar also discusses his pioneering work on Helicobacter pylori, noting how this microbe’s influence on acid secretion reshapes the gastric environment and contributes to cancer development.
This research reinforces the importance of defining a healthy microbiome as a foundation for clinical translation. Reproducibility and robust validation are essential as the field moves closer to practical applications.