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Los Alamos Microbiome Center

Microorganisms are everywhere, but what are they doing?

At the Los Alamos Microbiome Center, our scientists combine Lab capabilities in microbial science, genomics, and analytics to perform transformative research towards innovative solutions in human and environmental health. Microbiome scientists use state-of-the-art research equipment, novel bioinformatics, and long-standing technical expertise to ask and answer critical research questions

Our Expertise: From Sample to Sequence to Answer

Los Alamos scientists focus on getting the best data from samples using:

  • Reliable workflows for sample collection and preparation
  • Metadata standards
  • Unique data analytical workflow development, including implementing machine learning and quantum computing
Streams Infographic2 Circle

Data Standards Development

STREAMS (Standards for Technical Reporting in Environmental and host-Associated Microbiome Studies) 

A multi-institution team of researchers co-led by Los Alamos National Laboratory along with the New Mexico Consortium (NMC) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) created STREAMS: a set of guidelines to help microbiome scientists report their data in a uniform, effective way.

Read the paper.

Research Partnerships

Scientists at the Los Alamos Microbiome Center have numerous collaborations across Los Alamos National Laboratory and beyond.

Our scientists partner with and support the following agencies:

  • Department of War/Defense Threat Reduction Agency
  • Department of Energy/Biological and Environmental Research
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • US Centers for Disease Control

Microbiome Community Building

  • Periodic meetings featuring tech talks from microbiome researchers
  • Quarterly journal club
  • Mailing list for announcements & opportunities
  • In-person and virtual networking opportunities

Research Areas

  • Soil

    Studying the complex microbiomes in soil, including interactions between bacteria and fungi, as well as plant associating microbes leads to a better understanding of crop resilience and more.

  • Wastewater

    Biomonitoring and anomaly detection in wastewater microbiomes is leading to real-time biothreat detection, outbreak prediction, and forecasting to enhance the nation's preparedness for the next infectious disease outbreak.

  • Human

    Microbial interactions and microbe-host interactions can lead to either better health or health problems. Our scientists are developing rapid, scalable approaches to dissect these complex microbial interactions to understand how to manage human microbiomes for the best outcomes.

  • Space

    Lab scientists investigate the effects of microgravity and space on various microbes, including gut microbiome populations, to help advance understanding about how space travel can impact astronaut health or plant growth.

  • Aerosols and Built Environments

    Lab scientists demostrated effective techniques to detect sequences from viruses, human, bacteria, archaea, fungi, and other eukaryotes in air samples taken indoor spaces such as cafeterias and waiting rooms. The technique used shows promise for pathogen detection in the air without pre-selecting which specific organisms to look for.

  • Non-human Hosts

    Monitoring biological communities and microbiomes in a wide range of species including at the wildlife-livestock interface is critical. Cooperative research in this area helps us identify potential ecological impact, economic impacts, and disease risk.

Contact

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P.O. Box 1663

Los Alamos, NM 87545

(505) 667-5061

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