Summary
This landmark paper by the Human Microbiome Project Consortium establishes a comprehensive reference dataset characterising the microbial communities inhabiting multiple body sites — including gut, oral cavity, skin, and urogenital tract — in healthy adult humans. Using both 16S rRNA amplicon and metagenomic sequencing, the study demonstrates substantial inter-individual variability in microbial composition alongside a conserved core of metabolic functions. The work provides a foundational baseline against which disease-associated dysbiosis can be measured in subsequent research.
UK applicability
The study was conducted in the United States and population-specific microbiome variation means the baseline profiles may not fully translate to UK cohorts; however, the methodological framework and functional gene reference catalogues have been widely adopted in UK microbiome research, including the British Gut Project.
Key measures
16S rRNA gene sequencing; whole-genome shotgun sequencing; microbial diversity indices (alpha and beta diversity); taxonomic and functional gene profiles across body sites
Outcomes reported
The study characterised microbial community composition and functional capacity across multiple body sites in healthy adult volunteers, establishing reference baseline data for the human microbiome. It reported variation in microbial diversity within and between individuals across distinct body habitats.
Topic tags
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