Microbiomes and Its Significance with the Current Applications in Human Health and Disease: Goals and Challenges of Microbiome Research Today

Human beings are home to a massive invisible microbial community, which powers nearly all processes in the body. Bacteria, archaea, viruses, protozoa, and fungi are the most common organisms in or on our bodies. These fascinating microbial species are called our microbiota collectively. The human body includes a wide number of bacteria, both inside and outside. In particular, it is the microbial genome set that leads to an overall human genetic picture. We know very little about how the pendulum between health and illness swings in our microbiome. The diversity and balance of our microbiome and vulnerability to diseases are inextricably linked. Here, we try to consolidate our existing knowledge about microbiome evolution and ecology in future studies, as well as to consider the relationships between host microbiomes and human health and disease. Finally, we highlight modern methods and technology to human health advancement. The present book on microbiomes is therefore intended to give readers a broad understanding and encouragement for future research and multidisciplinary cooperation on the goals and challenges of microbiome research today.