A groundbreaking AI tool developed by researchers at Lund University in Sweden can now trace people’s recent locations based on the microorganisms on their bodies. Published in Genome Biology and Evolution, this study introduces the Microbiome Geographic Population Structure (mGPS), an AI model that identifies unique microbial fingerprints left behind in different environments. By analyzing these microbiomes tiny communities of bacteria, fungi, and algae the tool can determine whether someone has been to places like a beach, subway, or park.
Unlike GPS technology that relies on satellites, the mGPS system uses AI to map the microbiome data associated with specific locations. “In contrast to human DNA, the human microbiome changes constantly when we come into contact with different environments,” explained study co-author Eran Elhaik. This changeable nature allows researchers to track where a person has recently been, with applications in medicine, epidemiology, and even forensic science.
Training the AI on Microbial Data
To develop mGPS, researchers trained it on a diverse dataset, including microbiomes from subways, soil, and marine samples collected across 53 cities worldwide. By mapping these unique microbial “fingerprints” to geographic coordinates, the AI model can pinpoint a sample’s source with surprising precision.
For example, in 92% of the cases, mGPS correctly identified the originating city for urban samples. The tool’s accuracy was further tested on heavily sampled cities like New York, Hong Kong, and London. In Hong Kong, it distinguished between two subway stations only 564 feet apart, while in New York, it could differentiate between surfaces less than a meter apart.
However, mGPS struggled slightly in London, correctly identifying only half the samples’ locations. Researchers attributed this to the less maintained state of London’s subway stations, which likely affected microbial clarity.
Implications and Future Potential
The mGPS tool could be revolutionary for understanding disease spread, tracking microbial resistance, and aiding criminal investigations. By continuing to expand the microbiome database, researchers aim to make this tool even more precise, potentially opening new pathways in both public health and forensic science.
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