Human Microbiome in Brazil

The human body is inhabited by complex microbial communities, which positively impact different aspects of our health and are also associated with the development of diseases. Microbiomes from different organs and body sites vary in composition, structure, and gene repertoire, revealing strong niche specialization. Various lifestyle aspects, including diet, health care, hygiene habits and living conditions might influence the human-associated microbiome, highlighting the importance of comparative studies of populations from different countries. Specific cultural traits from Brazil, together with genetic, climatic and socio-economic conditions suggest that microbial communities associated with Brazilian population might contain particular features. This chapter reviews the progress of human microbiome research in Brazil in the past 10 years, focusing on broad-range analyses by DNA sequencing technologies. Microbial communities from skin, gut and oral cavity from Brazilian subjects, as well as microbiome from built environment and human-associated objects are discussed. Issues of specific interest for the country are approached, including endemic as well as prevalent diseases and conditions, and future challenges are identified.