For microbiome research to be translated into clinical applications, the field needs to move beyond correlational studies; we suggest adopting a multi-phase iterative approach that leverages in vivo and ex vivo strategies, as well as a combination of traditional microbiology, with big-data approac...

Background Species host diverse microbial communities that can impact their digestion and health, which has led to much interest in understanding the factors that influence their microbiota. We studie...