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Related Concept Videos

Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction 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...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development 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...
The Oral Microbiota01:27

The 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...
Human Virome01:26

Human 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...
The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...
Microbiota of the Large Intestine01:27

Microbiota 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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
11:22

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

Chapter 12: Human microbiome analysis.

Xochitl C Morgan1, Curtis Huttenhower

  • 1Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.

Plos Computational Biology
|January 10, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The human microbiome, comprising diverse microbes on body surfaces, plays a crucial role in digestion and immunity. Understanding its ecological diversity through advanced sequencing and bioinformatics offers therapeutic potential for various health conditions.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • The human body hosts a vast and diverse microbial community (microbiome) from birth.
  • This microbiome is essential for normal physiological functions, including digestion and immune system development.
  • Dysbiosis, or imbalance, in the human microbiome is linked to diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and antibiotic-resistant infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the historical development and methodologies of human microbiome research.
  • To introduce advanced sequencing techniques like metagenomics and metatranscriptomics for microbiome analysis.
  • To highlight the functional genomics of the human microbiome and its impact on health and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical microbiome studies and ecological diversity assessment methods.
  • Introduction to shotgun sequencing technologies, including metagenomics and metatranscriptomics.
  • Discussion of computational challenges and bioinformatics tools for analyzing microbiome data.

Main Results:

  • High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics enable comprehensive microbiome analysis.
  • These tools facilitate understanding the ecological diversity and functional contributions of microbial communities.
  • Functional genomics reveals the microbiome's influence on human health and disease states.

Conclusions:

  • The human microbiome is integral to health, with dysfunctions contributing to disease.
  • Advanced sequencing and computational methods are key to deciphering microbiome complexity.
  • Targeting the microbiome presents promising therapeutic avenues for a range of health issues.