Microbiome engineering represents a transformative approach to promoting healthy aging and treating disease by modifying the vast ecosystem of microorganisms within the human body. Research indicates that the gut microbiome is a fundamental determinant of longevity; centenarians, for example, possess distinct "youth-associated" microbial signatures characterized by high diversity and an enrichment of beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Bifidobacterium. These microbes help maintain the colonic mucus layer and regulate inflammation, counteracting the "biome-aging" process—a trajectory defined by dysbiosis, increased intestinal permeability ("leaky gut"), and chronic inflammation (inflammaging).

To harness these benefits, scientists are employing synthetic biology and CRISPR-based gene editing to create "s ...