The Kentucky Microbiome Map

<div>The Kentucky Microbiome Map is an interactive, continuously updated platform designed to visualize the distribution and diversity of microorganisms across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Each mapped point represents a location reported in the peer-reviewed literature where microorganisms were sampled from soil, water, geologic substrates, or clinical settings. Environmental studies include only non-host-associated, non-clinical microorganisms sampled from natural environments. Clinical studies are mapped separately to highlight locations where investigations into host-associated or human health-related microbes have occurred.</div><div><br /></div><div>For each location, associated metadata include study information, taxonomic classifications, sample type, sampling method, latitude and longitude, sampling date, publication reference, and a direct link to the source publication. The map also incorporates Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) research on microbial diversity in geologic environments.</div><div><br /></div><div>Additionally, the map displays microbial surveillance data from the Kentucky Watershed Watch program, indicating sites where Escherichia coli has been sampled from streams, rivers, and other fluvial systems. These sites are also visualized using a heat map to illustrate relative E. coli concentrations across the state.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Kentucky Microbiome Map serves as a versatile tool for a range of applications, including pathogen surveillance, microbial ecology studies, preliminary environmental assessments, emerging pathogen prediction, bioprospecting, bioremediation targeting, epidemiological investigations, and public health monitoring. By providing a dynamic, geospatial view of microbial data across temporal and environmental gradients, this map supports research, risk assessment, and resource management efforts throughout Kentucky. It will be updated regularly as new studies and sampling results become available. </div>