This is an international effort with an annual conference.
www.human-microbiome.org
18 short video statements from enthusiastic researchers are here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/microbiome/videos

"This channel gathers videos on the human microbiome and related subjects."

Videos uploaded by MetaHIT, the European effort, (parallel and jointly with our NIH Human Microbiome Project) - It seems that in Europe the focus is especially Metagenomics of the Human Intestinal Tract.
These efforts are considered to comprise OPEN and SHARED data. (Similar to the Human Genome Project re our our own genes, not those of the microbes we host), considered to comprise OPEN and SHARED data.

We here about STDs, what about STBs (to coin an acronym)?

Are healthy bacteria historically transmitted in oral/oral, oral/genital, and genital/genital contact?

Is there any connection between the microbiome & epigenetics?

Can the guest talk about "translational" medicine based on this research. Will pharma be selling us back our biota, rather than a global effort to learn ways to maintain our human microbiomes, and to maintain harmony by avoiding hurting it? Sources to restore balance?? Seaweed, connects us to the ocean microbiome, more present in Japanese people's microbiomes.

Can you comment on the pH of the body and it's relationship to this topic?

Do either of you as scientists studying this in the lab, get sick from these bacteria?

I now put "Please no antibiotics if possible - religious preference - in honor of my natural human microbiome" when I fill out doctor intake forms.

Can the guests comment on how to visualize these colonies of microbes? We are looking at genetic databases to enumerate their various presence and numbers. Can we see them with electron microscopes?

Can the guests speak about new therapies wherein microbiomes are transplanted?

I was wondering whether physical interacting with people (hugging, kissing, hand shaking) has an impact on your microbes; making "aligning" the microbes of the interacting people?

Thanks,
Wilko

(1) Has the field of biology become biotechnology?

(2) What is the "mass" (volume) of the microbes that live in our bodies?

What happens when one preps for a colonoscopy? Isn't everything destroyed? Why not?

When one travels overseas for long periods does one's flora change much?

Leonard

Can your guests comment on the modulating effect of parasites on the immune system as a treatment strategy for certain auto immune diseases such as MS, ulcerative colitis, and certain arthritic diseases.
Is "Helmitic" worm therapy gaing credence.
thanks

I've recently switched to drinking raw milk from local farmer; been about 2 months. Lots of my friends are horrified that I might get some harmful bacteria. What is the real risk of drinking unpasteurized milk? Are there benefits, other than taste?

On Radiolab, they had a segment about gut bacteria and mental health. Can the guests comment on those studies?

Since there are good microbes, is it possible that parents who insist on cleanliness and antimicrobial cleaners are preventing children from acquiring the good bugs, as well as losing the chance to strengthen the immune system?

How do we get these natural and good micros into our system??? What is your opinion of mouth washes before we brush - do we remove good micros? How do we maintain good micros on our skins??

Here is a link to a NY Times op-ed on this exact subject from today: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/opinion/lets-add-a-little-dirt-to-our-diet.html?src=me&ref=general

Is it true that we are born with a sterile gut and develop bacteria flora after birth?