Open AccessAn overview of major metagenomic studies on human microbiomes in health and disease
Author(s) -
Cui Hongfei,
Li Yingxue,
Zhang Xuegong
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
quantitative biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.707
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 2095-4697
pISSN - 2095-4689
DOI - 10.1007/s40484-016-0078-x
Subject(s) - metagenomics , microbiome , human microbiome project , human microbiome , biology , human health , data science , computational biology , isolation (microbiology) , evolutionary biology , ecology , computer science , genetics , bioinformatics , gene , environmental health , medicine
Many microbes are important symbiotes of human. They form specific microbiota communities, participate in various kinds of biological processes of their host and thus deeply affect human health status. Metagenomic sequencing has been widely used in human microbiota study due to its capacity of studying all genetic materials in an environment as a whole without any extra need of isolation or cultivation of microorganisms. Many efforts have been made by researchers in this area trying to dig out interesting knowledge from various metagenome data. In this review, we go through some prominent studies in the metagenomic area. We summarize them into three categories, constructing taxonomy and gene reference, characterization of microbiome distribution patterns, and detection of microbiome alternations associated with specific human phenotypes or diseases. Some available data resources are also provided. This review can serve as an entrance to this exciting and rapidly developing field for researchers interested in human microbiomes.