title: Implications of the human microbiome project for epidemiology.
abstract: The structure and function of microorganisms that live in and on us, the human microbiota, are a tremendous resource. Microbiota may help to explain individual variability in health outcomes and be a source of new biomarkers for environmental exposures and of novel prognostic and diagnostic indicators. The increase in availability of low-cost, high-throughput techniques makes it relatively straightforward to include microbiota assessments in epidemiologic studies. With the recent joint publications of the findings of the Human Microbiome Consortium and related studies, the consequent surge of interest in microbiome research, and remarkable media attention, the time is ripe for epidemiologists to contribute their expertise to and translate results of microbiota research for population health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA. bfoxman@umich.edu
authors.forename: Betsy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Foxman
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D054892:Metagenome; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification