updated 7-1-09, Preza et al. new publication; Colombo et al. accepted for publication; see What's New The Forsyth Institute Offers State-of-the-Art Technology
for Bacterial Detection and Identification

The Human Microbial Identification Microarray core (MIM) at The Forsyth Institute in Boston, Massachusetts provides a specialized service for the rapid determination of bacterial profiles of clinical samples. The first MIM offering focuses on the detection of bacterial profiles of clinical samples from the oral cavity, esophagus and lung. Dr. Bruce Paster and Dr. Floyd Dewhirst used molecular analyses based on 16S rRNA sequencing to identify over 600 bacterial species in the oral cavity. About 35% of these species has not yet been cultivated (for details see the Human Oral Microbiome Database, HOMD). Using this information, they developed for their own research the Human Oral Microbe Identification Microarray, or HOMIM, which allows for the simultaneous detection of about 300 of the most prevalent oral bacterial species, including the "uncultivables." HOMIM is now available to researchers from academic and private institutions, government, and industry.

Utility of HOMIM
- To determine and compare bacterial associations in oral health and disease, including periodontitis, gingivitis, caries, endodontic and odontogenic lesions, abscesses, and halitosis
- To determine the progression of oral diseases
- To determine the effacacy of therapies, e.g., mouthrinses, antibiotic treatment, scaling and root planing, or surgery
- To determine potential biomarkers for non-oral systemic diseases, e.g., pancreatic cancer, heart disease, and Crohn's Disease

HOMIM can be used to rapidly produce preliminary data for grants, to obtain data for student projects or theses, and to analyze frozen, archived clinical samples.

Investigators submit DNA isolated from clinical samples and receive comprehensive analysis via email. Depending upon the number of samples to be analyzed and position in the queue, results can usually be obtained within a week. Note that HOMIM is currently used for research endeavors only, and can not be used for diagnostic purposes.

To learn more about this service and, if there is mutual interest, potential collaboration, please contact Dr. Paster at bpaster@forsyth.org or 617-892-8288.

1,600 visits--897 unique visitors from 362 cities in 49 countries since 6/6/08