The MayissueofGenome Medicinefeatures two articles that highlight the role of microbes in human health and disease as part of a recently launchedthematic serieson this exact topic.Charis Engmuseson the importance of maintaining a healthy microbiome to prevent disease and discusses how microbiome profiles could be used as a diagnostic tool for cancer. On a related topic, astudybyChris Boshoffand colleagues reveals that specific genetic alterations are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) status in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Notably, HPV-positive tumors have more copy number alterations in the PI3 kinase pathway, which might be important for the interpretation of current clinical trials using inhibitors of this pathway.

Amethodin this issue byCurt Scharfeand colleagues employs a new PCR-based technology for sequence target enrichment using double stranded DNA probes. This approach shows improved accuracy and coverage and is potentially cheaper than previous approaches, as discussed byStephan ZuchnerandToumy Gettouchein the accompanyingResearch Highlight. Anotherstudy, from the laboratory ofDaniel Geschwind, describes regional gene expression changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease status and shows an emerging picture of cell-specific gene expression patterns. Interestingly,David Gurwitzargues in a highly accessedMusingsarticle that gene expression profiling is still the best tool available to find markers of disease and response to treatment.

Two Review articles were additionally published in May; the firstReview, byCatherine WuandDan Landau, covers recent genomic advances in understanding chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In the secondReview,Hong-Wen Dengand colleagues discuss how genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics have contributed to our knowledge of osteoporosis. The issue also includes aMeeting reportbySanthosh Girirajan, covering the 7thWellcome Trust Genomic Disordersconference, recently held in Cambridge, UK.

If you want to know more about the genomics of health, or top-down approaches in proteomics, then you’ll like what June has in store for you atGenome Medicine. Stay tuned!