The Human Microbiome

The relationship between humans and their resident microbiomes is complex and influences many aspects of health and disease. Microbes cover all surfaces inside and outside the human body. Diabetes, obesity, food allergies and many other conditions can be ameliorated by microbiomes. This volume includes chapters devoted to the myriad aspects of the microbiome of humans.

1. Human Microbiome 2. Human Microbiome: Dynamics and Host Interactions Section II. The Microbiome of the Digestive system 3. Model Systems for Studying the Human Gut Microbiome 4. Oral Microbiome Dysbiosis: Study Methods, Diseases, and Therapeutic Approaches for Restoration 5. Early Diet and the Infant Gut Microbiome: How Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Shape the Microbiome 6. Microbiota of the Gut-Brain Axis 7. The Gut - Kidney Axis: Mechanism of Host - Microbiome Interactions and Renal Pathophysiology 8. The Gut Microbiome and Postmenopausal Bone Loss: Implications for Dietary Interventions B 9. Gut Microbiome and Eating Disorders: From the Body-Mind Connection to the Therapeutic Perspectives 10. The Viruses in Our Gut – A Key Parameter for Understanding Gut Health Section III. Disease-Associated Microbiomes 11. Human Skin Microbiome in Inflammatory Cutaneous Diseases of the Face 12. The Crosstalk Between Microbiome and Transcriptome – A Focus on Respiratory Diseases 13. The Role of the Microbiome in Psychiatric Disorders 14. Microbial Dynamics and Functions in Tumor Microenvironments 15. Microbiome Profiling in Clinical Practices: Bridging the Gap in Human Health 16. The Cervicovaginal Microbiome: Structure, Classification and Implications for Women’s Health Section IV. System-Level Understanding of Microbiomes 17. Microglia and the Microbiome: Distant yet Connected 18. From Neurodevelopmental Alterations to Neurodiversity: The Microbiome Perspective 19. Circadian Rhythm and the Microbiome 20. Pitfalls in Microbiome Research

Professor Sunil Thomas is a Research Professor at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, where he leads innovative work at the intersection of cell biology, microbiology, and translational medicine. His research is primarily focused on developing next-generation immunotherapies for complex and chronic conditions, including inflammatory bowel diseases and Alzheimer’s disease. A key component of his work involves investigating the role of the microbiome in disease progression and therapeutic response.
Over the course of his career, Professor Thomas has made significant contributions to the fields of infectious disease and vaccine development. He has been involved in the design and development of diagnostic tools and vaccines targeting a range of infectious pathogens. In addition, his research has extended into the structural biology of viruses, providing insights into viral mechanisms that inform both therapeutic and preventive approaches.
Professor Thomas earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Biotechnology from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in India. He subsequently completed postdoctoral training at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, where he further refined his expertise in molecular and translational biomedical research.
An accomplished scholar, Professor Thomas has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to books on vaccines and infectious diseases. He is also an inventor on multiple patents, reflecting the practical and translational impact of his research.