[Comment] Translating the gut microbiome: where are we?

Abstract

When the first studies describing the large-scale sequencing of the human gut microbiome were published more than 15 years ago, the possibilities seemed endless. The popular press, fundraisers, and the clinical community did not avoid hyperbole when describing the medical revolution that would take place. For the tenth anniversary of The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, we review progress to date by examining three major sectors where microbiome translation is expected. In these areas, significant progress has been made, and deeper understanding of the intricacies and translational challenges has been achieved.