Population-based Metagenomics Analysis Reveals Markers for Gut Microbiome Composition and Diversity

Overview

Journal Science

Specialty Science

Date 2016 Apr 30

PMID 27126040

Citations 837

Authors

Alexandra Zhernakova

Alexander Kurilshikov

Marc Jan Bonder

Ettje F Tigchelaar

Melanie Schirmer

Tommi Vatanen

Zlatan Mujagic

Arnau Vich Vila

Gwen Falony

Sara Vieira-Silva

Jun Wang

Floris Imhann

Eelke Brandsma

Soesma A Jankipersadsing

Marie Joossens

Maria Carmen Cenit

Patrick Deelen

Morris A Swertz

Rinse K Weersma

Edith J M Feskens

Mihai G Netea

Dirk Gevers

Daisy Jonkers

Lude Franke

Yurii S Aulchenko

Curtis Huttenhower

Jeroen Raes

Marten H Hofker

Ramnik J Xavier

Cisca Wijmenga

Jingyuan Fu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

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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