The human microbiome project
The Human microbiome project was the first step into research about bacteria that is present in the human body, and the association with disease. The project was launched in 2007 and was set out to be a five year program. It was funded by the United States National Institute of Health (NIH) however it involved many specialist from many countries worldwide, the original funding was around $115 million. The main purpose of the project was to analyse “how changes in the microbiome correlate with human diseases” (j. Ochoa- Raparaz, et al. 2011). The project involved a more in-depth study by analysing genes from whole (microbial) communities as well as to focus on the microbe function within these communities rather …show more content…
In a marker paper written by the NIH HMP Working Group, Jane Peterson, Susan Garges, et al in 2009 it was stated that the aims of the project were to study variation in human microbiome. Some of the features that would be used for analysis were population, genotype, disease, nutrition, medication as well as environment and influence on disease. The key findings of the project would later be placed in a database that would be available to the scientific community. Hence sometimes the human microbiome project may be called a community project. One of the key methods used in the project was the targeting of 16s ribosomal RNA gene sequences these were used as taxonomic makers during the finding of microbial communities. Another method that was used during the project was whole genome shotgun metagenomic sequencing. These methods were used to obtain more accurate data for further analysis. The program was divided into stages, one of the first stages in the human microbiome project was to collect a data set of microbial genome sequences from the five body regions. This procedure would target 3000 microbial genome sequences, it was considered that this was a key stage in the program and these results provide information that can help to interpret 16s rRNA gene sequences, as well as it provides a scaffold rapid …show more content…
The central nervous system (CNS) and the gut always communicate with each other this can be seen by conditions such as nausea, irritable bowel syndrome, stressful experiences that lead to gastrointestinal secretion and motility. There are many mechanisms involved with this form of communication, neural pathways as well as the immune and endocrine mechanisms. It is a known fact that the gastrointestinal tract has 500 million neurons it is the site of the gut microbiota and it is here that the largest amount of immune cells are located within the human body. Studies have shown that the overall balance in composition of the microbiota along with the influence of essential species that induce specific responses can influence the CNS, this then leading to changes of brain function and in consequence changes in mood and behaviour (P. Forsythe, W.A Kunze 2012). Many studies and a variety of methods were used to obtain these conclusions about the gut and brain communication. Once of the first studies was with the use of fruit flies. This was conducted to associate microbiota changes with pheromones and specifically behaviour changes. The study conducted by Sharon et al (P.Forsythe, W.A.Kunze 2012) firstly separated the population of the flies into two groups, one group was fed with molasses medium and the second group was fed with starch medium.
The Human microbiome project was the first step into research about bacteria that is present in the human body, and the association with disease. The project was launched in 2007 and was set out to be a five year program. It was funded by the United States National Institute of Health (NIH) however it involved many specialist from many countries worldwide, the original funding was around $115 million. The main purpose of the project was to analyse “how changes in the microbiome correlate with human diseases” (j. Ochoa- Raparaz, et al. 2011). The project involved a more in-depth study by analysing genes from whole (microbial) communities as well as to focus on the microbe function within these communities rather …show more content…
In a marker paper written by the NIH HMP Working Group, Jane Peterson, Susan Garges, et al in 2009 it was stated that the aims of the project were to study variation in human microbiome. Some of the features that would be used for analysis were population, genotype, disease, nutrition, medication as well as environment and influence on disease. The key findings of the project would later be placed in a database that would be available to the scientific community. Hence sometimes the human microbiome project may be called a community project. One of the key methods used in the project was the targeting of 16s ribosomal RNA gene sequences these were used as taxonomic makers during the finding of microbial communities. Another method that was used during the project was whole genome shotgun metagenomic sequencing. These methods were used to obtain more accurate data for further analysis. The program was divided into stages, one of the first stages in the human microbiome project was to collect a data set of microbial genome sequences from the five body regions. This procedure would target 3000 microbial genome sequences, it was considered that this was a key stage in the program and these results provide information that can help to interpret 16s rRNA gene sequences, as well as it provides a scaffold rapid …show more content…
The central nervous system (CNS) and the gut always communicate with each other this can be seen by conditions such as nausea, irritable bowel syndrome, stressful experiences that lead to gastrointestinal secretion and motility. There are many mechanisms involved with this form of communication, neural pathways as well as the immune and endocrine mechanisms. It is a known fact that the gastrointestinal tract has 500 million neurons it is the site of the gut microbiota and it is here that the largest amount of immune cells are located within the human body. Studies have shown that the overall balance in composition of the microbiota along with the influence of essential species that induce specific responses can influence the CNS, this then leading to changes of brain function and in consequence changes in mood and behaviour (P. Forsythe, W.A Kunze 2012). Many studies and a variety of methods were used to obtain these conclusions about the gut and brain communication. Once of the first studies was with the use of fruit flies. This was conducted to associate microbiota changes with pheromones and specifically behaviour changes. The study conducted by Sharon et al (P.Forsythe, W.A.Kunze 2012) firstly separated the population of the flies into two groups, one group was fed with molasses medium and the second group was fed with starch medium.