Privacy-preserving microbiome analysis using secure computation.

ABSTRACT:

Motivation

Developing targeted therapeutics and identifying biomarkers relies on large amounts of research participant data. Beyond human DNA, scientists now investigate the DNA of micro-organisms inhabiting the human body. Recent work shows that an individual's collection of microbial DNA consistently identifies that person and could be used to link a real-world identity to a sensitive attribute in a research dataset. Unfortunately, the current suite of DNA-specific privacy-preserving analysis tools does not meet the requirements for microbiome sequencing studies.

Results

To address privacy concerns around microbiome sequencing, we implement metagenomic analyses using secure computation. Our implementation allows comparative analysis over combined data without revealing the

SUBMITTER: Wagner J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4908319 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature