Karen E. Nelson

TL;DR: The Human Microbiome Project Consortium reported the first results of their analysis of microbial communities from distinct, clinically relevant body habitats in a human cohort; the insights into the microbial communities of a healthy population lay foundations for future exploration of the epidemiology, ecology and translational applications of the human microbiome as discussed by the authors.

TL;DR: A majority of the bacterial sequences corresponded to uncultivated species and novel microorganisms, and significant intersubject variability and differences between stool and mucosa community composition were discovered.

TL;DR: The Human Microbiome Project has analysed the largest cohort and set of distinct, clinically relevant body habitats so far, finding the diversity and abundance of each habitat’s signature microbes to vary widely even among healthy subjects, with strong niche specialization both within and among individuals.

TL;DR: The genome sequence of P. falciparum clone 3D7 is reported, which is the most (A + T)-rich genome sequenced to date and is being exploited in the search for new drugs and vaccines to fight malaria.

TL;DR: Over 1.2 million previously unknown genes represented in these samples, including more than 782 new rhodopsin-like photoreceptors are identified, suggesting substantial oceanic microbial diversity.