The White House has launched the National Microbiome Initiative (NMI), a programme designed to increase understanding of minuscule organising called microbes.
Federal agencies are committing US$121 million to the NMI over the next two years, while more than 100 universities, non-profit organisations, and companies are chipping in another US$400 million, the Atlantic news magazine reported.
Microbes are found in living creatures, including humans, and are also found in many other environments, such as in soil or the ocean, and are also present in plants.
They play an important part in the well-being of their hosts, and scientists are clearly keen to find out more about why and how they do so.
The NMI will look at developing better tools for studying microbiomes.
The initiative has been welcomed by Stephen O'Hara, chief executive of human microbiome specialist, OptiBiotix Health plc (LON:OPTI).
“The announcement of a US$500mln commitment into research into the microbiome demonstrates the increasing interest from governments and research institutes around the world into the potential of the microbiome to influence many aspect of our daily lives, including the potential to prevent, manage, and treat human disease,” O'Hara said.
“With increasing research funding into this area we can anticipate further discoveries and opportunities across a wider range of diseases including cancers, autism, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, even tooth decay,” he added.