A Noah's Ark of beneficial germs would be collected from human populaces whose microbiomes are un-compromised by antibiotics, processed diets and other ill effects of contemporary society, which have contributed to a huge loss of microbial diversity and an associated rise in health problems
The researchers equate their idea to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the world's largest collection of crop diversity, created in case of natural or man-made disasters.
Researchers at the University of California-San Diego, University of Chicago and New York University Langone Medical Center said it may be conceivable one day to prevent disease by reinstating lost microbes. People living in urban societies have lost a considerable part of their microbiota diversity. The gut flora of most Americans, is half as diverse as that of hunter-gatherers in isolated Amazonian villages.
An international effort, including significant funding, would be needed to collect and store the collected microbes in a global repository.