Roadmap for Microbiota optimisation

What are we trying to achieve and why? What is the problem we are trying to solve?

Understanding the functional capacity of microbiota (including better annotation and characterisation of the organisms present).
Determine what is shaping the microbiome including the interactions within the microbiome with bacteria, viruses etc… – we don’t have a good understanding how it is interacting with itself.

What are the scientific and technological challenges (knowledge gaps needing to be addressed)?

Developing computation tools, databases (unique database to collect data on animal microbiome), and metabolic modelling.
Diet or food affects the microenvironment on different compartments, for example, by changing the PH.
Culturomics.

What approaches could/should be taken to address the research question?

Culturomics.
Intestine loops.
Organ-on-a chip.
Organoids from organs with microbiomes.

What else needs to be done before we can solve this need?

Existing knowledge including successes and failures