Human microbiome research excludes developing world

The bacteria in our bodies have been linked to colon cancer, ulcers, and cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's. However, a study published in PLOS Biology found that the human microbiome favours high-income countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. Over half of all publicly available microbiome samples come from Americans, despite making up only 4.3% of the world's population.

These findings raise questions about the field's applicability to developing nations and underrepresented groups. Microorganisms are known as the "human microbiome in the human body."

The microbiome comprises billions of bacteria that live everywhere, from the small intestine to the eyeball. According to research, these microorganisms have wide-ranging effects on humans. For example, inflammatory bowel disease, stomach cancer, and diabetes have been linked to gut bacteria. Researchers have been exploring these links since the early 2000s. Their research included over 440,000 microbiome samples from worldwide archives like the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Genetics in Japan. These disparities exist due to economic and political influences on scientific research and logistical issues in developing countries.

The microbiome is influenced by genetics, geography, nutrition, and lifestyle. The authors argue that a lack of funding for microbiome research limits future microbiome-based medical therapies to specific nations or populations.

Source: PLOS Biology