Stockholm, Sweden — A groundbreaking discovery in microbiome research has emerged from a team of Swedish scientists who have developed a tool capable of pinpointing a person’s location based on the microbes found on their body. The system, named Microbiome Geographic Population Structure (mGPS), employs artificial intelligence to analyze the microorganisms we inadvertently collect from our surroundings, leaving behind a microbial trace unique to each place.
This study, published in Genome Biology and Evolution, demonstrates the capabilities of this novel approach. The researchers conducted an extensive analysis of microbiomes taken from samples collected in various cities worldwide. The mGPS system is trained to differentiate unique microbial “fingerprints” of locations, linking them to specific geographic coordinates. This innovative tool has been aptly dubbed the “microbial GPS” by the team.
"We literally become carriers of environmental traces, which we can transport across thousands of kilometers," says Dr. Anders Höögström, lead author of the study. "In major cities like New York, Hong Kong, and London, microbial data gives us precision down to just a few meters."
The initial tests of mGPS are promising: the algorithm accurately identified the cities of origin for 92% of the analyzed samples. Within metropolitan areas, the system’s accuracy reached 82%, showcasing the tool's potential in forensic investigations, epidemiological studies, and even medical diagnostics.
While these findings represent a significant breakthrough, some experts have raised concerns about privacy implications.
“Using microbial data to track people's movements could spark privacy concerns,” notes Dr. Samuel Berg from Harvard Medical School. Nonetheless, he adds, “This research exemplifies how microorganisms can reveal far more than we might imagine.”
According to the scientists, future research will focus on gathering data from more diverse and complex urban landscapes. They hope that expanding the database will enhance the accuracy of mGPS and pave the way for new applications of microbiome science in daily life.
The achievement of the Swedish team marks a vital contribution to the burgeoning field of microbial geography, reminding us that each step we take leaves a trace that can be read by nature.