PNNL

Abstract

The vital role microbiomes play in ecosystems and for human health is now apparent. Great progress has been made by using model systems to gain insight into host-microbe interactions, yet lack of standardized reproducible experimental systems and methods greatly limits microbiome science. Recent successes highlight the importance of developing these types of systems to deconstruct mechanisms mediating host-microbe interactions. Standardization of ‘fabricated ecosystems’ would enable detailed mechanistic interrogation and more effective knowledge transfer between researchers – analogous to the significant impact model organisms and cell systems have had in molecular and cell biology. To advance these efforts we advocate for strategies and overarching themes to enable communities of scientists to work together to develop standardized laboratory microbial consortia for studying host-associated microbiomes.