SIMAP integrates the human microbiome. We are not alone: our body contains about as many microbial as human cells. Most of these microbes are concentrated in the intestinal tract. But microorganisms are also found on our skin and on many other locations of our body. These microbial are crucial for our health, as they support our organism and prevent us from infections by pathogens. Due to the high diversity of the human microbiome its biological and medical investigation has just started during the last years. Modern research technologies, such as DNA sequencing, play a key role in this research. Sequences, e.g. from healthy and sick patients or from different body locations, are analyzed by sophisticated computational methods.

SIMAP supports the researchers studying the human microbiome by integrating the sequences from HMPDACC into its exhaustive similarity matrix. This will help to understand the evolution and function of the microbes living with us.