One of the components of the emerging lifestyle shows an exponential rise
in the consumption of packaged or high-calorie food. This has caused an increase in the
incidences of diseases which are considered to be a consequence of the changing
lifestyle. It has been observed that these clinical conditions are linked with gut
dysbiosis, and hence it has been proposed that by modulation of the composition of gut
microbiota, the risk of such diseases can be lowered. Prebiotics and probiotics, in
combination, possess tremendous potential for maintaining the homeostasis in
individuals. In this chapter, a comparative assessment of CRISPR-mediated genome
editing technique has been discussed with conventional omics tools and modelling
approaches. These techniques substantially simplify the modification of target genome
in complex microbial communities and could enhance their prebiotic and probiotic
potential. The synthetic biology approach to microbiome therapies such as additive,
subtractive, and modulatory therapies for curing gut dysbiosis are also discussed. The
chapter is aimed at developing a better understanding about the role of CRISPR/Cas as
a reliable technology that may be employed as a diagnostic tool for infectious disease
diagnosis as well as its treatment. Although, the tool has already demonstrated its use
in a wide range of genome editing and genetic engineering applications, additional
study into its use in human genome editing and diagnostics is needed considering any
potential side effects or ambiguities.
Keywords: Gut microbiome, Gut dysbiosis, Genome editing, Prebiotics and probiotics, CRISPR.
