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In one of the largest longitudinal studies of the microbiome to date, researchers from the ,  (MGH), and the  Study Group have identified a connection between changes in gut microbiota and the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The study, which followed infants who were genetically predisposed to the condition, found that onset for those who developed the disease was preceded by a drop in microbial diversity – including a disproportional decrease in the number of species known to promote health in the gut. These findings, , could help pave the way for microbial-based diagnostic and therapeutic options for those with T1D.

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness that our bodies are not entirely our own: each of us contains a delicate ecosystem comprised not only of human cells, but also trillions of microorganisms – bacteria, viruses, and other assorted “bugs” – that reside in our bodies. Within the human gut, as in any ecosystem, this balance can easily be disrupted, with devastating consequences.