Insights into the ecology of the infant gut plasmidome

Wanli He, Jakob Russel, Franziska Klincke, Joseph Nesme () and Søren Johannes Sørensen ()
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Wanli He: Universitetsparken 15
Jakob Russel: Universitetsparken 15
Franziska Klincke: Universitetsparken 15
Joseph Nesme: Universitetsparken 15
Søren Johannes Sørensen: Universitetsparken 15

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Plasmids are small DNA molecules that enable bacteria to share beneficial traits, influencing microbial communities. However, their role within the human gut microbiome remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigate the gut microbiomes of 34 mother-child cohorts, employing a plasmid analysis workflow to understand the impact of plasmids on the gut microbiome. We create a plasmid phylogenetic tree, devise a method for assigning plasmid hosts, and examine potential plasmid transfer networks. Our research discovers a wide variety of previously unidentified plasmid sequences, indicating that current databases do not fully represent the gut plasmidome. Interestingly, infants display greater plasmid diversity compared to mothers and other healthy adults. We find that Bacteroidota, a major bacterial phylum, serves as the primary host for gut plasmids and plays a dominant role in gut plasmid transfer events. Additionally, plasmids broaden the genetic capabilities of bacteria, with their influence on bacterial function becoming more apparent as children’s gut microbiomes develop. This study sheds light on the role of plasmids in the infant gut microbiome, making a significant contribution to our understanding of plasmid biology.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51398-3

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