Bugs as Features (Part II): A Perspective on Enriching Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis Analyses

Abstract: The microbiome-gut-brain-axis field is multidisciplinary, benefiting from the expertise of microbiology, ecology, psychiatry, computational biology, and epidemiology amongst other disciplines. As the field matures and moves beyond a basic demonstration of its relevance, it is critical that study design and analysis are robust and foster reproducibility. In this companion piece to Bugs as Features (part I), we present techniques from adjacent and disparate fields to enrich and inform the analysis of microbiome-gut-brain-axis data. Emerging techniques built specifically for the microbiome-gut-brain axis are also demonstrated. All of these methods are contextualised to inform several common challenges: how do we establish causality? How can we integrate data from multiple 'omics techniques? How might we account for the dynamicism of host-microbiome interactions? This perspective is offered to experienced and emerging microbiome scientists alike, to assist with these questions and others, at the study conception, design, analysis and interpretation stages of research.