Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
11:22
Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
Published on: October 15, 2019
The Human Microbiome Project in 2011 and beyond.
1National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, 5635 Fishers Lane, Bethesda, MD 20892-9305, USA. lita.proctor@nih.gov
Cell Host & Microbe
|October 25, 2011
Summary
The Human Microbiome Project (HMP) provides valuable resources for studying the human microbiome. These resources include microbial genomes, DNA sequences, and gene data from healthy adults.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genomics
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- The human body hosts a vast community of microorganisms, collectively known as the human microbiome.
- Understanding the microbiome's composition and function is crucial for human health research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) resources.
- To discuss the utility of these resources for microbiome research.
- To outline future research directions in the field.
Main Methods:
- The HMP generated a comprehensive dataset including microbial reference genomes.
- High-throughput sequencing technologies were employed to generate 16S rRNA gene sequences and metagenomic data.
- Bioinformatic analyses were used to predict genes within the microbiome.
Main Results:
- The HMP has curated 600 microbial reference genomes.
- The project has amassed 70 million 16S sequences and 700 metagenomes.
- Over 60 million predicted genes from healthy adult microbiomes are available.
Conclusions:
- The HMP resources are foundational for advancing microbiome research.
- These datasets enable studies on the microbiome's role in health and disease.
- Further research will leverage these resources to explore complex host-microbe interactions.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Introduction to the Human Microbiota
Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
01:26Human Virome
The human body harbors a vast and diverse viral community known as the human virome. The virome includes bacteriophages that infect bacteria, and eukaryotic viruses that infect human cells. Transient dietary and environmental viruses also contribute to this dynamic ecosystem. Estimates suggest the human body may contain on the order of 10¹³ viral particles, though abundance varies widely by body site and detection method.Comprehensive characterization of the virome has become possible only with...
01:27The Oral Microbiota
The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
01:27Microbiota of the Large Intestine
The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...
01:28Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract
The human urogenital system, once thought to be sterile in healthy individuals, is now recognized as a complex microbial habitat. Advancements in molecular sequencing techniques have revealed that even in healthy adults, the kidneys and bladder harbor microbial populations similar to those found in the distal urethra, albeit in much lower abundance. These resident microorganisms, while generally innocuous, can become opportunistic pathogens under conditions that alter the urogenital...