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PrintInternet-based Tools for Teaching "Microbiome"
A microbiome is all of the genetic material found within an individual microbe such as a bacterium, fungal cell, or virus. It also may refer to the collection of genetic material found in a community of microbes that live together. http://www.genome.gov/Glossary/index.cfm?id=502
Working project websites for microbiome research and studies
Earth Microbiome Project
This is a proposed massively multidisciplinary effort to analyze microbial communities across the globe. This site contains links on the goals, how people can get involved, and even contains protocols and standards. There is a link to a Microbe article about this project below.
Major Human Microbiome Research Consortia
Since this is the web site for the Microbiome Research Consortia it contains links to various other sites (some of which we have here) and web sites of individual labs involved in the project. The paragraphs at the bottom contain useful definitions.
European Project on intestinal tract microbiome
This site contains a nice downloadable pdf of their work. There are also links to other parts of the work including: Objectives, microbial profiling, data analysis, and more.
Canadian Project
Not only does this site contain information about the Canadian microbiome project but it also contains a link to research highlights written for the public.
Ethics-related websites for microbiome research and studies
Stanford Bioethics Newsletter
There are numerous ethical issues involved in research on the totality of microbes involving human beings. A commonly expressed fear is that genetic information will in some way be used to harm people. The harms often identified include a loss of privacy resulting in discrimination. In this link both of these issues are examined in the article. Confidentiality is a crucial component of the physician/patient relationship and needs to be respected and upheld in all genomic medicine.
Microbe Article: Modeling the Earth Microbiome by Jack A. Gilbert and Folker Meyer, March 2012
This story about the Earth Microbiome Project was published by the American Society for Microbiology. This article details the efforts to characterize the microorganisms that inhabit the varied ecosystems of the Earth. This story highlights the collaborative effort, which will allow for comparisons among different ecosystems worldwide and will allow for advances in modeling efforts. Because microorganisms are so critical in ecosystem functioning, this microbiome effort is critical to our understanding of Earth's ecosystems.
Nature article: Microbiome: The critters within Written by Lauren Gravitz in Nature 485, S12-S13 (17 May 2012)
This article highlights the roles of microorganisms in the human gut and suggests that these microorganism essentially serve as another organ in the human body. The article discusses the possible role of microorganisms in diabetes and insulin resistance and efforts to understand microbial roles in metabolism in the human body.
Discover Magazine: Are those the gut microbes of an unhealthy person, or a pregnant one?
Recounts Dr. Omry Koren's research at Cornell University that was published in Cell on the microbiome of stool samples from 91 pregnant Finish women. No difference was found in the first trimester but major differences that relate to metabolism were found in the third trimester.
BBC article: Microbiome: How bugs may be crucial to your health by Karen Weintraub
Nice article covering the background for the reserch, who is doing the research, and includes a few examples of how these organisms are important. One example covers a fecal transplant.
Wired Magazine: The Wired Atlas of the Human Ecosystem by Carl Zimmer, October 2011
While this is a static site it has nice graphics and blocks of text that are short and easy to read. It is a step above the normal newspaper article.
New York Times: Tending the Body's Microbial Garden by Carl Zimmer, June 18, 2012
This article is a nice overview of the microbiome and even includes fungus whereas most articles only mention bacteria.Scientific American: Explore the Human Microbiome: Learn about the bacteria, fungi and other micro-organisms that maintain human health by Christine Gorman, May 15, 2012
This Scientific American website provides an overview of the human microbiome studies. The viewer can click on one of five areas of the body that are highlighted and can get an overview of the microbiome in that area. Major microbial players in each body area also are provided with an overview of key information about each organisms, which often contains a link to further information.
Contributing Team of Educators:
Harold Chittum Ph.D., University of PikevilleDia-Eldin A. Elnaiem Ph.D., University of Maryland Eastern Shore
J. Michael Engle Ph.D., Mount Aloysius College
Danny L. Franke Ph.D., Alderson-Broaddus College
Diana E. Northup Ph.D., University of New Mexico
Lori West Ph.D., Lee University Posted: March 5, 2013
