Scientists from The Forsyth Institute and King's College, London, have released the Human Oral Microbiome Database, a new tool for the research community. The database provides descriptions of the nearly 600 microbes (bacteria) that are most commonly found in people's mouths.
Most bacteria living in the mouth are thought to be important for maintaining the health of teeth and gums, as well as for general human health. A smaller number are potentially disease causing. The database, available at www.homd.org, seeks to help scientists studying the role of specific microbes in human health and disease.
The Human Oral Microbiome Database links several types of information on these microbes to a consistent naming system. Within the database, descriptions of the microbes, their metabolism, and their ability to cause disease will be linked to information on their DNA and proteins, as well as to the scientific literature. It also allows scientists to examine the genomes of the microorganisms that have had their DNA sequenced.
This project is supported by National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, (NIDCR), part of the National Institutes of Health. The database is related to the Human Microbiome Project, launched in December 2007, by NIH to sequence the genomes of representative human microorganisms.
