The gut microbiota and disease – an inner repository for drug discovery

The gut micobiota is tantamount to a hidden inner organ, with a gene content (microbiome) exceeding that of the human genome, a versatile metabolic capacity rivalling that of the liver and a source of signals required for optimal structural and functional development of the host. Although some disorders, such as Crohn's disease, might result from abnormal host–microbe interactions, and others, such as obesity, might be influenced by bacterial-derived metabolic signalling from the gut, the microbiota is primarily a health asset in defence against infectious, inflammatory and probably neoplastic disorders. This inner biomass is a relatively untapped repository for ‘mining’ bioactives for novel drug discovery.

Section editor:Gareth J. Sanger – Immuno-Inflammation Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK