# Culturable Human Microorganisms and the Impact of Transportation Conditions on Cultivability

## TL;DR

This study explores how to better isolate and preserve human-associated microorganisms using culturomics and optimized transport conditions.

## Contribution

A robust methodology for large-scale acquisition of culturable microorganisms with optimized transport conditions is developed.

## Key findings

- Staphylococcus strains were identified from the scalp, while anaerobic microorganisms dominated in saliva and fecal samples.
- Transportation conditions like liquid nitrogen and DMSO buffer improved the preservation of culturable microorganisms.
- An integrated culturomic and sequencing approach enabled efficient isolation of diverse microbial strains.

## Abstract

The composition of the human microbiome is a critical health indicator, and culture-independent methodologies have substantially advanced our understanding of human-associated microorganisms. However, precise identification and characterization of microbial strains require culture-based techniques. Recently, the resurgence of culturomics, combined with high-throughput sequencing technology, has reduced the high labor demand of pure culture methods, facilitating a more efficient and comprehensive acquisition of culturable microbial strains. This study employed an integrated approach combining culturomic and high-throughput sequencing to identify culturable microorganisms on the human scalp and in human saliva and feces. Several Staphylococcus strains were identified from the scalp, whereas anaerobic microorganisms were dominant in the saliva and fecal samples. Additionally, the study highlighted the beneficial effects of transportation conditions (liquid nitrogen treatment, dry ice transport, and dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO] buffer) in preserving culturable microorganisms. A robust methodology was developed for the large-scale acquisition of culturable microorganisms with optimized transport conditions that enhance the potential for isolating a greater diversity of culturable strains.