Microbiome research helps us better understand how our lives and environments are affected by bacteria, fungi, archaea and viruses. In the past, microbiome research was limited to our ability to culture microbes for characterizing our microbial world. With next-generation sequencing (NGS), we are able to gain a deeper understanding of the microbes that live in, on and around us. Whole-genome sequencing and 16S/ITS sequencing can provide new insights into human health and diseases and can help develop novel diagnostics and therapies.