Recent Developments in Microbiome Therapeutics Recent-Developments-in-Microbiome-Therapeutics-Nov | Page 3

Introduction
The human microbiome has fascinated scientists for decades. With the advances in sequencing techniques, it
has finally become possible for researchers to start putting the pieces of the puzzle together. An entire industry
dedicated to Microbiome Therapeutics is slowly taking shape, the sole purpose of which is to identify treatments
for ailments such as cancer and autism based on a minor alteration of the body’s microbiome. Although the human
microbiome consists of bacterial, fungal and viral species, currently the industry is focused on the bacterial part of
the microbiome.
In this paper, we will look at some of the recent developments in the field of human microbiome therapeutics. We
will also try to understand what some of the companies and research bodies around the world are working on.
Cancer
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 1 has designated several microbes as Class 1 (Carcinogens) 2 .
These include Helicobacter pylori, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, Human Papillomavirus, etc. Further,
several metagenomic studies 3 have been conducted to identify the presence of commensal bacteria in patients
affected by different types of cancer. As a result, several research groups and companies have now turned their
attention towards developing therapeutic solutions targeting these bacteria.
A research collaboration between scientists from The University of Hong Kong and University of East Finland,
has led to a significant finding 4 that liver cancer growth was suppressed in mice that were fed a probiotic mixture,
1  http://www.iarc.fr/
2 IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Biological agents. Volume 100 B. A review of
human carcinogens. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Hum. 2012;100 (p t B):1-441
3 Bhatt, A. P., Redinbo, M. R. and Bultman, S. J. (2017), The role of the microbiome in cancer development and therapy. CA:
A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 67: 326–344. doi:10.3322/caac.21398
4 Li J. et al (2016), Probiotics modulated gut microbiota suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma growth in mice. PNAS, 113 (9):
E1306-E1315. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1518189113
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Recent Developments in Microbiome Therapeutics