Metagenomics of the human microbiome

Humans are “superorganisms” possessing an “extended genome” of millions of microbial genes that influence the host metabolism and physiology. Metagenomic methods allow the study of the structure and functions of all genes involved in integral gene-metabolic networks of ecologically dynamic microbial communities. This review summarizes some of the latest knowledge obtained by the metagenomic analysis of human gut and oral microbiota and concerns mechanisms of microbiome evolution. The nature of some diseases associated with microbiome distortions is considered. Information on the tasks of human microbiome projects is presented.