Studies suggest that the intestinal microbiome modulates the risk of several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, allergy, cardiovascular disease, and colorectal cancer (CRC). Dietary factors are related to chronic disease risk, and they have been suggested to modulate the composition and function of the gut microbiome. However, detailed knowledge on the relationship of diet, the microbiome, and chronic disease risk is still limited.

The overarching aim of the knowledge platform is to foster studies on the microbiome, nutrition and health by  assembling available information in the field of microbiome research in food, nutrition and health in a comprehensive way, which also includes other disciplines (e.g. food science, metabolomics) that are relevant in the context of microbiome research. The goal is to make this information findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) to the scientific community and to link and provide in-depth information to various stakeholders.

As part of our efforts to make microbiome study information accessible to the public implementing FAIR guidelines, we worked together to define 4 Use Cases based on available data within and outside the consortium: 

Use Case 1: “Differences in microbiome composition before and after dietary intervention “

Use Case 2: “Examine differences in microbiome and dietary composition in infants”

Use Case 3: "Microbiome composition in obese and non-obese individuals” 

Use Case 4: “Microbiome composition in obese and non-obese individuals stratified by age”

The use cases thus cover a wide range of common research questions in microbiome studies. Study protocols are currently being developed and will be published at the end of this year in a consortium-wide special issue in the Journal "Nutrients" titled "Connection between Microbiome, Lifestyle and Diet". More information on the special issue can be found here: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients/special_issues/microbiome_lifestylediet.