Population-based metagenomics analysis reveals markers for gut microbiome composition and diversity

A Zhernakova, A Kurilshikov, MJ Bonder, EF Tigchelaar… - Science, 2016 - science.org
Deep sequencing of the gut microbiomes of 1135 participants from a Dutch population-
based cohort shows relations between the microbiome and 126 exogenous and intrinsic
host factors, including 31 intrinsic factors, 12 diseases, 19 drug groups, 4 smoking
categories, and 60 dietary factors. These factors collectively explain 18.7% of the variation
seen in the interindividual distance of microbial composition. We could associate 110 factors
to 125 species and observed that fecal chromogranin A (CgA), a protein secreted by …
Deep sequencing of the gut microbiomes of 1135 participants from a Dutch population-based cohort shows relations between the microbiome and 126 exogenous and intrinsic host factors, including 31 intrinsic factors, 12 diseases, 19 drug groups, 4 smoking categories, and 60 dietary factors. These factors collectively explain 18.7% of the variation seen in the interindividual distance of microbial composition. We could associate 110 factors to 125 species and observed that fecal chromogranin A (CgA), a protein secreted by enteroendocrine cells, was exclusively associated with 61 microbial species whose abundance collectively accounted for 53% of microbial composition. Low CgA concentrations were seen in individuals with a more diverse microbiome. These results are an important step toward a better understanding of environment-diet-microbe-host interactions.
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