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| Format: | Recurso digital |
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Zenodo
2026
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19557547 |
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| _version_ | 1866901969183965184 |
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| author | Gottel, Neil Yip, Aaron Venturelli, Ophelia Gunsch, Claudia |
| author_facet | Gottel, Neil Yip, Aaron Venturelli, Ophelia Gunsch, Claudia |
| contents | <p><span>Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are threats to patient safety, yet conventional broad-spectrum disinfection strategies can lead to empty ecological niches that opportunistic pathogens exploit. Here, we introduce the concept of <em>antipathobiotics</em>, precision microbiome engineering interventions that selectively suppress pathogens while preserving or reinforcing beneficial microbial communities in the built environment. Based on gut microbiome research and the use of biocontrol in agriculture, we propose that ecological fit, functional redundancy, and colonization resistance are the governing principles that should guide the design of antipathobiotic interventions. Current candidate antipathobiotic technologies include bacteriophage cocktails and microbial-based cleaning products. We further propose that the iterative Bayesian Optimization framework, using the Design-Test-Learn cycle, offers a path for optimizing complex, combinatorial antipathobiotic formulations. Finally, we address outstanding risks, including the potential for resistance selection, unintended ecological disruption, horizontal gene transfer, and public acceptance challenges, emphasizing that proactive risk assessment and transparent stakeholder engagement are prerequisites for responsible deployment. Together, this perspective charts a roadmap for translating microbiome engineering from host-associated and agricultural contexts into the distinct physical and ecological constraints of the built environment, with the long-term goal of reducing the burden of HAIs and AMR.</span></p> |
| format | Recurso digital |
| id | zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_19557547 |
| institution | Zenodo |
| language | |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publisher | Zenodo |
| record_format | zenodo |
| spellingShingle | Antipathobiotic engineering of the microbiome in built environments Gottel, Neil Yip, Aaron Venturelli, Ophelia Gunsch, Claudia <p><span>Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are threats to patient safety, yet conventional broad-spectrum disinfection strategies can lead to empty ecological niches that opportunistic pathogens exploit. Here, we introduce the concept of <em>antipathobiotics</em>, precision microbiome engineering interventions that selectively suppress pathogens while preserving or reinforcing beneficial microbial communities in the built environment. Based on gut microbiome research and the use of biocontrol in agriculture, we propose that ecological fit, functional redundancy, and colonization resistance are the governing principles that should guide the design of antipathobiotic interventions. Current candidate antipathobiotic technologies include bacteriophage cocktails and microbial-based cleaning products. We further propose that the iterative Bayesian Optimization framework, using the Design-Test-Learn cycle, offers a path for optimizing complex, combinatorial antipathobiotic formulations. Finally, we address outstanding risks, including the potential for resistance selection, unintended ecological disruption, horizontal gene transfer, and public acceptance challenges, emphasizing that proactive risk assessment and transparent stakeholder engagement are prerequisites for responsible deployment. Together, this perspective charts a roadmap for translating microbiome engineering from host-associated and agricultural contexts into the distinct physical and ecological constraints of the built environment, with the long-term goal of reducing the burden of HAIs and AMR.</span></p> |
| title | Antipathobiotic engineering of the microbiome in built environments |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19557547 |