The Role of the Microbiome in Human Health and the Environment: From Next-Generation Probiotics to Waste Recycling

The microbiome, as a complex ecosystem of microorganisms, plays an unparalleled role in human health and environmental sustainability. This comprehensive review examines the multifaceted dimensions of the microbiome from the individual to the ecosystem level. At the human level, the focus is on the gut-brain axis, the role of gut microbiota in modulating the immune and nervous systems, and the potential of probiotics, prebiotics, and psychobiotics in managing metabolic and psychiatric disorders such as depression. Simultaneously, environmental microbiomes (soil, water, waste systems) act as engines of biogeochemical cycles and material recycling. This article emphasizes the emerging convergence between microbiome engineering in medicine (aimed at developing next-generation probiotics) and in the environment (aimed at designing microbial consortia for efficient waste recycling and bioremediation). By leveraging omics technologies and ecological modeling, we can move toward developing targeted and sustainable interventions to enhance human health and ecosystem resilience. The future of research in this field depends on integrating interdisciplinary perspectives and embracing the holobiont concept.

کلیدواژه ها:

Gut microbiome ، Gut-brain axis ، Psychobiotics ، Dysbiosis ، Microbiome engineering ، Omics