The hidden immune system of our microbiome

Abstract

The human microbiome provides interesting and medically important insights into the interactions between humans and microorganisms. Another level is the interaction between the bacteria of the microbiome with their parasites, the bacteriophages. Metagenomics allows researchers to analyze these interactions and their dynamics using extensive sequence data. For this purpose, CRISPR-Cas systems from metagenomes have been bioinformatically analyzed. The spacer sequences in CRISPR arrays can be used for determining phage populations of different habitats in and on human individuals as well as for identifying dominant CRISPR-Cas systems.