Flashcards on The Human Microbiome: Health and Disease

Human Microbiome: Health, Disease & Research Explored

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Which body sites were sampled in the Human Microbiome Project (list major site groups)?

Oral cavity (gingiva, sub/supragingival plaque, buccal mucosa, hard palate, tonsils, saliva, tongue, throat), skin/epidermis (inner elbow, behind the

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Human Microbiome Research & Data

31 cards

Card 1

Question: Which body sites were sampled in the Human Microbiome Project (list major site groups)?

Answer: Oral cavity (gingiva, sub/supragingival plaque, buccal mucosa, hard palate, tonsils, saliva, tongue, throat), skin/epidermis (inner elbow, behind the

Card 2

Question: What are the two main molecular approaches used to answer different questions in human microbiome analysis?

Answer: 16S rRNA sequencing (to determine which organisms/species are present and their relative representation) and whole-genome (total DNA) sequencing (to d

Card 3

Question: What question does 16S rRNA sequencing primarily answer in microbiome studies?

Answer: Which organisms (taxa) are present and their relative frequencies in the microbial community at a sampled site.

Card 4

Question: What question does whole-genome (total DNA) sequencing primarily answer in microbiome studies?

Answer: What genes, functions, and metabolic pathways are present in the microbial community and their relative frequencies; it can also help identify variant

Card 5

Question: Briefly outline the typical workflow for human microbiome research from sample to analysis.

Answer: Select healthy individuals, collect microbiome sample from target body site, isolate DNA, perform 16S rRNA sequencing for species representation and/o

Card 6

Question: How are sequences interpreted after sequencing in microbiome studies?

Answer: Sequences are compared to taxonomic databases and reference genomes to identify taxa and to functional/gene databases to assign genes and metabolic pa

Card 7

Question: What kinds of biological information can whole-genome sequencing provide that 16S rRNA sequencing cannot?

Answer: Identification of genes and metabolic pathways (functions), detection of variants and polymorphisms in microbes, and more precise functional profiling

Card 8

Question: What major pattern about microbial clustering did the Human Microbiome Project find?

Answer: Microbial communities cluster primarily by body area; nasal microbes bridge skin and oral populations, and gastrointestinal microbes form a distinct c

Card 9

Question: How does diet influence intestinal microbiome composition according to the results?

Answer: Diet high in fiber (fruits/vegetables) is associated with species like Ruminococcus bromii, Roseburia sp., Eubacterium rectale, and Bifidobacteria; a

Card 10

Question: What are 'enterotypes' as described in the content?

Answer: Globally distinguishable categories (3–4) of significantly different gut microbiome composition among people.