The NIH Human Microbiome Project (HMP) Consortium would like to take the opportunity to update members of ASM regarding the status of our reference strain genome sequencing endeavors, and request feedback and community input from members of the Society. In 2007, the NIH launched a Roadmap Initiative focused on sequencing and analysis of the communities of microbes associated with the human body (known as the Human Microbiome) and to determine whether changes in the Human Microbiome correlate with changes in human health and disease. The overall goal of the HMP (http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/hmp) is to provide resources and information that will accelerate research on the Human Microbiome and its relationship to human health and disease.  One major goal is the sequencing of the complete genomes of at least 1,000 reference strains that represent microbes associated with the human body and rapid release of this data to the scientific community. Most of these will represent normal flora, though some will also be diseaseassociated organisms. We anticipate that this reference strain dataset will serve as a rich resource for the analysis of metagenomic data that are being generated in parallel as a part of the HMP and by researchers outside of the HMP.

The HMP Roadmap Initiative is well underway. The genomes of approximately 250 strains have been sequenced and released into GenBank; information on these strains and others that are targeted for inclusion is available on the HMP Data Analysis and Coordination Center site (http://www.hmpdacc.org/reference_genomes.php). In addition, analysis of the completed reference genomes will soon be presented in a manuscript being prepared by the Consortium. The reference genome sequences are being produced by four Genome Centers: the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center; the Broad Institute; the J. Craig Venter Institute; and the Genome Center at Washington University.

A major challenge faced by the Consortium is the identification of additional reference strains to sequence and sources of these strains. We believe that ASM members can play a valuable role in this project by helping us to identify and obtain bacterial strains that should be part of this publicly accessible reference genome collection. We are actively seeking suggestions for additional genomes to be sequenced, and nomination of those that might benefit from having their genomes closed or upgraded. Links for community input on sequenced genomes and strain inclusion can be found at http://www.hmpdacc.org/reference_genomes.php. We encourage you to participate in this community effort.

The NIH Human Microbiome Project Consortium

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