Dataset Information

Geospatial Resolution of Human and Bacterial Diversity with City-Scale Metagenomics.

ABSTRACT: The panoply of microorganisms and other species present in our environment influence human health and disease, especially in cities, but have not been profiled with metagenomics at a city-wide scale. We sequenced DNA from surfaces across the entire New York City (NYC) subway system, the Gowanus Canal, and public parks. Nearly half of the DNA (48%) does not match any known organism; identified organisms spanned 1,688 bacterial, viral, archaeal, and eukaryotic taxa, which were enriched for harmless genera associated with skin (e.g., Acinetobacter). Predicted ancestry of human DNA left on subway surfaces can recapitulate U.S. Census demographic data, and bacterial signatures can reveal a station's history, such as marine-associated bacteria in a hurricane-flooded station. Some evidence of pathogens was found (Bacillus anthracis), but a lack of reported cases in NYC suggests that the pathogens represent a normal, urban microbiome. This baseline metagenomic map of NYC could help long-term disease surveillance, bioterrorism threat mitigation, and health management in the built environment of cities.

SUBMITTER: Afshinnekoo E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4651444 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Geospatial Resolution of Human and Bacterial Diversity with City-Scale Metagenomics.

Afshinnekoo Ebrahim E Meydan Cem C Chowdhury Shanin S Jaroudi Dyala D Boyer Collin C Bernstein Nick N Maritz Julia M JM Reeves Darryl D Gandara Jorge J Chhangawala Sagar S Ahsanuddin Sofia S Simmons Amber A Nessel Timothy T Sundaresh Bharathi B Pereira Elizabeth E Jorgensen Ellen E Kolokotronis Sergios-Orestis SO Kirchberger Nell N Garcia Isaac I Gandara David D Dhanraj Sean S Nawrin Tanzina T Saletore Yogesh Y Alexander Noah N Vijay Priyanka P Hénaff Elizabeth M EM Zumbo Paul P Walsh Michael M O'Mullan Gregory D GD Tighe Scott S Dudley Joel T JT Dunaif Anya A Ennis Sean S O'Halloran Eoghan E Magalhaes Tiago R TR Boone Braden B Jones Angela L AL Muth Theodore R TR Paolantonio Katie Schneider KS Alter Elizabeth E Schadt Eric E EE Garbarino Jeanne J Prill Robert J RJ Carlton Jane M JM Levy Shawn S Mason Christopher E CE

Cell systems 20150303 1

The panoply of microorganisms and other species present in our environment influence human health and disease, especially in cities, but have not been profiled with metagenomics at a city-wide scale. We sequenced DNA from surfaces across the entire New York City (NYC) subway system, the Gowanus Canal, and public parks. Nearly half of the DNA (48%) does not match any known organism; identified organisms spanned 1,688 bacterial, viral, archaeal, and eukaryotic taxa, which were enriched for harmles ...[more]

PMID: 26594662

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Dataset Information

Geospatial Resolution of Human and Bacterial Diversity with City-Scale Metagenomics.

Publications

Geospatial Resolution of Human and Bacterial Diversity with City-Scale Metagenomics.

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