ABSTRACT
Translational microbiome studies aim to solve the complex questions in expressing the host–microbiome crosstalk for host health maintenance. In order to understand the underlying mechanism by which the microbiome and its metabolites influence the functions of the host, it is crucial to have a robust study design coupled with statistical analysis. Application of statistical tools along with the high-throughput sequencing technologies helps in quantifying the microbiome abundances and their functions in the host. Further, statistical tools also help to cope with the high-dimensional structured multivariate sparse data. Therefore, this chapter provides an insight into the diverse multivariate statistical tools that need to be taken into consideration for depicting the role of microbiome in the host health. Besides this, an emphasis is placed on the way the application of the statistical tools would help to connect the raw data of the microbes with the mechanistic role played by them.
