Metagenomics: Seeking for the human gut microbial communities

Abstract

It has been recognized that human gut microbiome is extensively more complex than traditionally considered. In addition, the metabolic properties of the microbiota prove to be highly important to human physiology. In recent years, a new field to study whole microbial community genomes has emerged: metagenomics. It is based on molecular culture-free techniques to picture the diversity and dynamics of a given microbiota, and although many challenges still await to be solved in this area, most are already being addressed. The final goal to study these communities is to comprehend its dynamics in order to understand multifactorial diseases and improve health while deciphering new gene functions and products. The purpose of this review is to portray the state-of-the-art in gastrointestinal metagenomics. © 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.