A standardized collection of human stool and fermented food microbiomes from the Launch Phase of the Microbiota Vault Initiative

Abstract

The human gut microbiome and traditional food systems are threatened by lifestyle changes linked with industrialization. The gut microbiome plays a key role in human health, yet publicly available microbiome data lack global representation. Similarly, while fermented foods serve as an important nutritional and cultural resource, the microbial diversity of traditional fermented foods remains relatively unexplored and is equally at risk. Here we present a collection of human gut and fermented food microbiota profiles generated during the Launch Phase of the Microbiota Vault Initiative (MVI). This dataset includes standardized metadata and the 16S rRNA-based amplicon sequencing data from human stool (N = 767) and fermented food samples (N = 157) deposited into the MVI by researchers across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. These data are broadly compatible with other public microbiome datasets and are readily reusable, provided that appropriate attribution is given to the local researchers who maintain ownership of these collections. We anticipate that this resource will facilitate future comparative studies and meta-analyses across diverse human populations and fermented food systems, promoting more representative microbiome research.