Author: Anne M. Estes

I am a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of Julie Dunning Hotopp at the Institute for Genome Sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. My research focuses on the influence of the host on the ecology, evolution, and genomics of the microbiome. I blog about the human microbiome at MostlyMicrobes .

Who is in the operating room during c-section deliveries?

By Anne M. Estes   Posted in Buildings Built Environment Topics Research Sequencing
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Infants born via c-section have a microbiome community composed mostly of skin bacteria [1-3], but the source of these skin bacteria is unknown. People quickly shed bacteria into their environment, leaving their own bacterial signature in a room within hours [4]. Do hospital operating rooms harbor skin bacteria that could colonize c-section delivered infants? A …

Birth: The intersection of biology and buildings

By Anne M. Estes   Posted in Buildings Research Social Media
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As the oldest daughter of 3rd generation HVAC/plumbing/electrical small business owners, I held my share of flashlights on service calls and even wrapped ductwork one summer. I loved fiddling and building with the different tools, left-over bits of copper tubing, and other miscellaneous tidbits from jobs.  But my heart was more into asking questions about living …