The aim of the project is to improve our knowledge on the stability and temporal dynamics of the Flemish female microbiome (vagina, skin and saliva) in relation to different lifestyle factors and environmental conditions and to establish certain individual and social risk factors that can influence the healthy microbiome. Therefore, microbial DNA from swabs will be isolated via commercially available DNA extraction kits, followed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing in order to identify the microbial species present in these samples. Special attention will go to microbial species that are overrepresented in the healthy populations as potential health promoting microbes (i.e. probiotics).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
1,000
self-sampling
University of Antwerp and University Hospital Antwerp
Antwerp, Belgium
RECRUITINGDifferences in microbial communities colonizing the vagina, skin and saliva between healthy individuals measured with Illumina MiSeq
After metagenomic shotgun and amplicon sequencing with the Illumina MiSeq, bio-informatic tools will be used to analyse taxonomic and functional data. The investigators will specifically screen for health-promoting and pathogenic taxa that can be associated with specific environmental conditions and lifestyle factors. Additionally, the investigators will pay attention to the dominant members of the vaginal bacterial community (i.e. beneficial microbes such as lactic acid bacteria).
Time frame: up to 5 years
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