Project description

The microbial communities associated with every surface of our bodies are incredibly diverse, yet we know practically nothing about the majority of species that comprise them. Within the gastrointestinal tract, one of the most well studied sites, we estimate there are between 100 and 2000 species and numerous genetically distinct isolates. This project will collect samples from urban, rural and traditional indigenous communities across Australia to characterise the commensal bacterial genomic diversity across the Australian community. Understanding the diversity and distribution of bacterial species will provide important knowledge and insights into how these species and strains spread between individuals and contribute to health.