iMeta | A new evaluation system for drug–microbiota interactions

Tian-Hao Liu, Chen-Yang Zhang, Hang Zhang, Jing Jin, Xue Li, Shi-Qiang Liang, et al. 2024. A new evaluation system for drug–microbiota interactions. iMeta 3: e199. https://doi.org/10.1002/imt2.199

The drug response phenotype is determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The high clinical conversion failure rate of gene-targeted drugs might be attributed to the lack of emphasis on environmental factors and the inherent individual variability in drug response (IVDR). Current evidence suggests that environmental variables, rather than the disease itself, are the primary determinants of both gut microbiota composition and drug metabolism. Additionally, individual differences in gut microbiota create a unique metabolic environment that influences the in vivo processes underlying drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). Here, we discuss how gut microbiota, shaped by both genetic and environmental factors, affects the host's ADME microenvironment within a new evaluation system for drug–microbiota interactions. Furthermore, we propose a new top-down research approach to investigate the intricate nature of drug–microbiota interactions in vivo. This approach utilizes germ-free animal models, providing foundation for the development of a new evaluation system for drug–microbiota interactions.