Synthetic gutomics: Deciphering the microbial code for futuristic diagnosis and personalized medicine

Microbes exist in every type of environment and the human gut is no exception. These microbes play a very crucial role in health and metabolism. Synthetic Gutomics is an effort to describe the engineering of the gut microbiota for ameliorating human disorders. This technology uses non-invasive treatment of diseases by improving a healthy microbial community in the gut. The gut microbiome contributes to the functioning of many human systems ranging from the immune system to the nervous system. With the advancement of technology, synthetic biology has played an important role in developing engineered organisms. In this chapter, we discuss the advancement in probiotics using synthetic biology as a tool and its future advancements. Various types of organisms and their interaction with the human gut are discussed. This is followed by examination of the influence of diet on the human gut microbiota and health. The emergence of probiotics is then discussed. The role of synthetic biology on probiotics is then evaluated, along with the species that are used in synthetic biology together with the therapies used. This is followed by the tools and techniques used in synthetic probiotics. Their application in human health is followed by a discussion of metabolic modelling of the human gut microbiome. Finally the limitations, opportunities and future implications of this technology are presented.