At Last, I Meet My Microbes
At 31, a woman had the bacteria in her gut catalogued as part of scientific project that aims to characterize the creatures that live inside us and affect our health. Here's what she found out.
microbiome
Behind The Scenes At The Lab That Fingerprints Microbiomes
Inside the lab, a lone technician sorts through new samples, snipping off swab heads intentionally fouled with fecal material. One head goes to cold storage and the other is processed for sequencing.
To Get To The Bottom Of Your Microbiome, Start With A Swab Of Poo
To find helpful patterns in personal microbe populations, scientists also need to gather a long list of information about the people who serve as homes for the microscopic critters.
Poo And You: A Journey Into The Guts Of A Microbiome
Quick and inexpensive genetic sequencing is offering a glimpse of the microbes inhabiting our bodies. One woman volunteered to have her microbes cataloged. Her mom, husband and dog did, too.
How Can Vultures Eat Rotten Roadkill And Survive?
Vultures consume toxic bacteria that would sicken or kill humans. Stouter immune systems, colonies of helpful microbes and potent stomach acid may help the carrion eaters gorge with abandon.
What Microbes Lurked In The Last Public Restroom You Used?
A census of bacteria and viruses on the floors, toilets and soap dispensers of several bathrooms on a college campus turned up around 77,000 different types of organisms. Oh, joy.
The Ancient Art Of Cheese-Making Attracts Scientific Gawkers
In England, cheese-making is an art stretching back hundreds of years. But recently, scientists have become interested in the microbes that make the country's artisan cheeses so tasty.
Frozen Poop Pills Fight Life-Threatening Infections
The antibiotic-resistant bacteria C. difficile can be deadly. Fecal transplants often can cure infections but have a major ick factor. Capsules of fecal matter deliver the cure more politely.
Can Probiotics Help Soothe Colicky Babies?
As many as 15 percent of babies have colic, which can cause bouts of inconsolable crying. Researchers are testing probiotics to see if these good bacteria can help. But they don't know how the supplements work, or how they may affect children's health long term.
Getting Your Microbes Analyzed Raises Big Privacy Issues
Scientists are asking people to contribute samples of their gut microbes to help figure out how those microbes affect human health. But ethicists say sharing that information, as well as the personal health data that make it useful to researchers, poses risks. That's especially true for children.