DNA Extraction Methods for Human Studies

Introduction

Various microbial niches exist in different parts of the human body, each maintaining different roles. For example, the microbial community colonizing the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is involved in digestion, production of essential vitamins, development of the host immune system, and protecting the host from pathogen colonization (Clemente et al. 2012; Ariefdjohan et al. 2013). Microbes residing in the vagina help to prevent urogenital infections and maintain general vaginal health (Martin 2012). Dietary changes (especially through the consumption of probiotics and prebiotics), the use of antibiotics, and certain diseases (e.g., Crohn’s disease, bacterial vaginosis, and others) have been shown to alter the composition of the microflora and consequently human health (Clemente et al. 2012; Martin 2012; Ariefdjohan et al. 2013). As such, there has been an increasing interest in characterizing the composition of these complex communities and investigating the dynamic...