A clinical primer of the role of gut microbiome in health and disease

Gut microbiome represents the total microbes present in the gastrointestinal tract including the genes they encode. These microbes primarily exist in a reciprocal state with the host contributing several important functions such as carbohydrates fermentation, vitamin biosynthesis and regulation of the immune system. The gut microbiome represents a dynamic organ, which responds to changes in the host, such as genetics and age, as well as environment such as diet and antibiotics. While these microbes can adapt to change, any disturbance in this host-microbe equilibrium has the potential to initiate a cascade of events leading to a disease phenotype. In this review we highlight the emerging role of gut microbiome in different gastrointestinal and systemic diseases, the role of current therapies and development of future therapies targeting the gut microbiome as a potential mode of treatment.