Search research articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

The search for unrecognized pathogens.

¹Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. relman@cmgm.stanford.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|May 21, 1999

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

VIRGO2: Unveiling the Functional and Ecological Complexity of the Vaginal Microbiome with an Enhanced Non-Redundant Gene Catalog.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Same author

Host Genotype Links to Salivary and Gut Microbiota by Periodontal Status.

Journal of dental research·2022

Same author

Identification of Lactobacillus strains with probiotic features from the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

Journal of applied microbiology·2013

Same author

Characterization of a highly conserved island in the otherwise divergent Bordetella holmesii and Bordetella pertussis genomes.

Journal of bacteriology·2006

Same author

Species- and strain-specific control of a complex, flexible regulon by Bordetella BvgAS.

Journal of bacteriology·2006

Same author

Bordetella species are distinguished by patterns of substantial gene loss and host adaptation.

Journal of bacteriology·2004

Same journal

Erratum for the Research Article "Detecting supramolecular organic nanoparticles during heat wave".

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Same journal

Local signals, systemic decline.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Same journal

The mechanics of liver regeneration.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Same journal

Computing in a memory with physics.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Same journal

Retraction.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Same journal

Making time.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

See all related articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Molecular methods reveal vast microbial diversity, challenging our understanding of human-associated microbes and disease causation. Further research is needed to explore the full extent of microbial roles in health and illness.

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Infectious Diseases

Background:

Microbial distribution and diversity are significantly underestimated.
Molecular, cultivation-independent techniques have revolutionized microbial discovery.
Gaps exist in understanding human-associated microbial diversity and its role in disease.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess the extent of human ignorance regarding microbial diversity within the human body.
To explore the role of microorganisms in settings causing human disease.
To re-evaluate concepts of microbial disease causation in light of new molecular findings.

Main Methods:

Utilized molecular, cultivation-independent methods.
Employed techniques including broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Related Experiment Videos

Applied representational difference analysis, expression library screening, and host gene expression profiling.

Main Results:

Revealed a far greater microbial diversity than previously appreciated.
Highlighted the potential for implicating microbial agents in non-traditional infectious diseases.
Suggested that advanced molecular methods may necessitate a reassessment of disease causation concepts.

Conclusions:

Current knowledge of microbial diversity, particularly within the human body, remains incomplete.
Molecular techniques are crucial for uncovering novel microbial roles in health and disease.
A paradigm shift in understanding microbial disease causation is likely required.