Rethinking the Concept of a ‘Healthy’ Human Microbiome
A recent paper published in Nature Reviews Microbiology reexamines the long-standing assumption that there is a singular, well-defined “healthy” microbiome. The article emphasizes that microbiomes vary significantly across individuals due to factors such as genetics, diet, environment, and even geography, making it difficult to apply one universal standard of microbial health. The authors propose a more flexible understanding of microbial diversity and functionality, rather than adhering to a rigid definition of a "healthy" microbiome. The Diversity of Human Microbiomes Human microbiomes are highly individualized, and the concept of a “healthy” microbiome may not be as straightforward as previously thought. Variations occur not only between different people but even within an individual over time. For example, microbiomes can change with age, diet, travel, and illness. As a result, the paper suggests that using one static model to define health may overlook the dynamic natur...