Microbiomederived

Microbiome-derived is an adjective used to describe molecules, metabolites, or products produced by microbial communities within a host or environmental niche, or substances derived from such communities. It encompasses compounds generated by microbiota in the gut, oral cavity, skin, or environmental microbiomes, as well as products derived from the collective metabolic activities of these communities. In research, microbiome-derived metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (butyrate, propionate, acetate), bile acid derivatives, tryptophan metabolites, and vitamins are studied for their roles in host physiology and disease. In biotechnology and therapeutics, the term also refers to substances produced by engineered microbiomes or by using microbial enzymes to synthesize bioactive compounds.

Applications include pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and diagnostics, where microbiome-derived components are intended to modulate immunity, metabolism, or barrier function. Methods: investigators use metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, and metabolomics to identify microbiome-derived molecules, and may isolate microbes for culture-based production or use heterologous expression to produce compounds at scale. Challenges include the complexity and inter-individual variation of microbiomes, context-dependent activity, stability, delivery, and regulatory considerations. Standardization and safety assessment are essential, especially for live biotherapeutics or engineered microbial products. As the field evolves, microbiome-derived describes a broad class of bioactive molecules and products linked to microbial community function rather than to a single organism.