New discoveries about microbes in bodies.

ISLAMABAD -- A diverse group of researchers is working to turn new discoveries about the trillions of microbes in the body into treatments for a range of diseases.The microbiome comprises trillions of microorganisms living on and inside each of us. Historically, some researchers have guessed at its role in human health, but in the last decade or so genetic sequencing techniques have illuminated this galaxy of microorganisms enough to study in detail.

As researchers unravel the complex interplay between our bodies and microbiomes, they are beginning to appreciate the full scope of the field's potential for treating disease and promoting health.For instance, the growing list of conditions that correspond with...