Microbial genes in different individuals

Two technologies are being used to determine the presence and frequency of microbial genes in different individuals, which we term gene profiles. One is based on high density micro-arrays and the other on very high throughput DNA sequencing. Both will use information from the reference gene catalog.

A prototype procedure to create high density arrays from a complex gene catalog has been developed and is being tested. The present array should allow  the detection of over 3.4 millions microbial genes.

High throughput DNA sequencing has been calibrated on DNA samples of known composition, and has been used to analyze samples from 124 individuals. Procedures to compute and compare gene profiles for different individuals are being tested.