Clinical applications of crosstalk
In plain language
The insights about the crosstalk between human and microbiome are not only academically interesting — they also change what is possible in the consulting room. Diseases such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes or cancer are often noticed late, because classic biomarkers miss the dynamic between host and microbiome. It is becoming ever clearer that the microbiome helps determine how well a treatment works and which side effects someone experiences. Why does one patient respond strongly to the same medicine while another barely does? Part of the answer lies in the gut. And the way we monitor this is changing: new sensor technology measures microbial substances in breath or sweat, so that monitoring can be done without needles. In this way care shifts from ‘waiting for symptoms’ to early detection and targeted adjustment.
The science behind
In metabolic disorders, microbiome-derived metabolites help shape the picture. Short-chain fatty acids and indoles influence insulin sensitivity and fat storage, while dysbiosis is associated with low-grade inflammation and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In oncology the microbiome turns out to help steer both the effectiveness and the side effects of chemotherapy and immunotherapy; certain gut bacteria are associated with a better response to checkpoint inhibitors. This field — pharmacomicrobiomics — helps explain why the same treatment turns out so differently.
An epigenetic dimension is also emerging: through epigenome–microbiome crosstalk, adjusting the gut flora can modulate epigenetic pathways in the host, a new avenue in autoimmune diseases and cancer. At the same time, non-invasive diagnostics come into view. Volatilomics measures microbially produced volatile compounds (VOCs) such as acetate, ethanol and propanol in breath or sweat. These can serve as early, non-invasive signals of gut health, metabolic stress or inflammatory status — subtle shifts that a classic blood test often misses.
The common thread is co-metabolism: therapy response, side effects and risk arise from the interplay of DNA, microbiome, metabolites and lifestyle together. Integrating those layers makes precision care possible, in which the whole — not a single marker — informs the decision. This reading is supportive and observational — not a medical diagnosis.
Illustration & CosmoTalks
From insight to daily practice — five episodes on measuring, understanding and acting.
- S12·E1 — From a single test to the whole story
- S12·E2 — Multi-omics: the film instead of the photo
- S12·E3 — Why the same advice doesn't work for everyone
- S12·E4 — Measure, understand, adjust
- S12·E5 — Prevention as a lifestyle
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The common thread of this science, from insight to everyday application, by Petra Van Gucht.
See the books →Scientific references
• Zhang J., et al. (2025) — Epigenome–microbiome crosstalk in health and disease. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol.
• Chen Y., et al. (2024) — Microbial VOCs in host–microbiome communication. Int J Mol Sci.
• Van Gucht P. — FORMULA (COSMO trilogy): from insight to application in care.
Frequently asked questions
- What do we mean by clinical applications of crosstalk?
- Harnessing the dialogue between human and microbiome in practice — from assessing therapy response and side effects to non-invasive monitoring via metabolites and volatile compounds.
- What is pharmacomicrobiomics?
- The field that studies how your microbiome influences the action and breakdown of medicines, and thereby helps explain why the same treatment turns out differently.
- What is volatilomics?
- The measurement of microbially produced volatile compounds (VOCs) in breath or sweat, as a non-invasive signal of gut health, metabolic stress or inflammatory status.
- Does this replace my treatment?
- No. Decisions remain with your doctor. These insights are supportive and observational, not a diagnosis.
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