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THE HUMAN MICROBIOME
The Invisible Network
INNOVATORS
The Human Microbiome Project
Launched in 2007, the Human Microbiome Project has "the mission to generate the resources and expertise needed to characterize the human microbiome and analyze its role in health and disease" [I.2]. Participants in this trial gave samples from various parts of their bodies in order to have them analyzed for the bacteria they host. These samples are then studied "to learn about the genes that encode metabolic functions provided by the microbial communities residing at different body sites [...] To date, the HMP has generated 3.5 terabytes - or 3.5 trillion bytes - of data, or more than 1000 times the amount produced by the original Human Genome Project" [I.2]
UC Davis, Gail Bornhorst
A machine that allows scientists at UC Davis to study human digestion. Built by Gail Bornhorst, an engineer and professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, scientists use "this machine to simulate human digestion, hoping to provide information that will help people decide which foods and preparation methods are best for their health" [I.3].
[I.5]
This machine, called the Human Gastric Simulator, can not only imitate the biochemical conditions of digestion, but also the physical process. The bag of enzymes is poked, rolled, and massaged by metal cylinders to closely simulate a real stomach. Analyzing the enzymes and role of bacteria in the digestive system can help scientists understand more about the absorption of nutrients in the gut flora. [I.3]
Washington University School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine conducted a study where reasearchers "examined the nasal microbiome of children with unexplained fevers." Once these samples were analyzed, they discovered that "feverish children contained up to five-fold more viral DNA than children without a fever." Studying the nasal microbiome and developing tests that can identify "viral load" will be able to help children avoid inappropriate treatment with antibiotics that do not kill the viruses but may harm the child's healthy microbiome." [I.4]
Washington University Researchers "plan to follow up this work with the most extensive characterization of viruses to date of healthy people. Further study of the human microbiome can help in "understanding the difference between viral infections with and without fever." [I.6]
Spanish National Research Council
A study by the Spanish National Research Council found that "giving antibiotics to mothers while they are giving birth affects the process of establishing the intestinal microbiota of the new born baby." A mother helps the baby develop its microbiota such as bacteria in the stomach. According to the other studies, "breastfeeding, vaginal delivery and antibiotics" are "key factors" is any disruption or enhancement of a baby's microbiome. [I.7]
This study concludes that "what most influences the infant microbiota are the antibiotics administered to the mothers during labour." Babies that are premature have "fewer beneficial microorganisms" which researchers "found that these particular characteristics of prematurity are also increased by perinatal exposure antibiotics" which can be administered during labor. [I.7]
[B.6]
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