From Microbiome Profiling to Clinical Translation: Designing microbiome studies for clinical actionability

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ID: 333435
2026
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Ranked #217 of 241 articles by views in FEMS microbiology letters

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Abstract
Abstract Microbiome research has identified many highly valuable associations between microbial communities and factors such as diet, antibiotics use, lifestyle, inflammation, infection and chronic disease. However, many findings remain difficult to translate into clinical practice because they are only association-based and vulnerable to confounding. Many studies also often lack reproducibility. Comparisons between “dysbiotic” and “healthy” microbiome states can be misleading because microbiome profiles are shaped by factors such as diet, medication, geography, host genetics, demographics, disease severity and reverse causation. Moreover, there remains no universally accepted definition or consensus regarding what constitutes a ‘’healthy’’ microbiota. What in one individual may be considered a healthy mix of species may not necessarily serve another individual whose diet and lifestyle is completely different. The microbiome research must move beyond descriptive profiling toward clinically actionable and mechanistically informed study designs. The key barriers include small cohort sizes, inconsistent sample collection and treatment, differences in sequencing methods, constantly evolving bioinformatic pipelines, limited availability of raw data, and differences between OTU- and ASV-based analyses. To support a large-scale population studies and meta-analysis a transparent reporting along with shared analytical workflows are essential for progress in this field. Microbiome signatures should not only be reproducible, biologically plausible and modifiable but also linked to the treatment decisions or improved outcomes. This requires longitudinal modelling, external validation, mechanistic studies, and eventually interventional or pragmatic trials. The need for standardisation and reproducibility in microbiome research is widely recognised. This paper builds on that foundation by proposing an actionability-focused framework for designing translational microbiome studies. Using Type 2 Diabetes treatment as a worked example demonstrates that microbiome features should be evaluated not only for their statistical associations, but also for the additional predictive value they provide beyond established clinical variables.
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Authors Natalia G. Bednarska
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Journal FEMS microbiology letters
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/femsle/fnag130
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnag130
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