Marsh, Charissa C.Van Zyl, Kristien NelBabalola, Olubukola OlurantiBohmer, ReinhardCowan, Don A.Moganedi, Kgabo L.M.Moroenyane, ItumelengNaidoo, JerolenDelgado,12 ,13 ,14 , Abigail NievesPosma, Joram M.Segal, Leopoldo N.Setati, Mathabatha E.2026-04-222026-04-222025-12Marsh, C.C., Van Zyl, K.N., Babalola, O.O. et al. 2025, 'From description to implementation: key takeaways from the 3rd African Microbiome Symposium', MSphere, vol. 10, no. 12, pp. 1-8. 10.1128/msphere.00683-25.2379-5042 (online)10.1128/msphere.00683-25http://hdl.handle.net/2263/109686ADDITIONAL FILES : Tables S1 and S2. Full program and speaker lists for the 3rd African Microbiome Symposium and pre-symposium workshop.The 3rd African Microbiome Symposium was held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 20 to 22 November 2024. The symposium featured a diverse range of local and international microbiome research and provided a platform for 79 researchers, students, and industry members to engage in discussions on the microbiome within an African context and focusing on translational research. This meeting review shares highlights, findings, and recommendations derived from the event. Insights from two panel discussions revealed key barriers to microbiome research in Africa, including limited funding, infrastructure gaps, and a shortage of trained local scientists. Recommendations centered on increased investment, institutional training, adherence to ethical guidelines, and the fostering of equitable global partnerships.en© 2025 Marsh et al. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.African microbiomesMetagenomicsCapacity buildingTranslational researchArticle