Human gut microbiome viewed across age and geography

Tanya Yatsunenko, Federico E. Rey, Mark J. Manary, Indi Trehan, Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello, Monica Contreras, Magda Magris, Glida Hidalgo, Robert N. Baldassano, Andrey P. Anokhin, Andrew C. Heath, Barbara Warner, Jens Reeder, Justin Kuczynski, J. Gregory Caporaso, Catherine A. Lozupone, Christian Lauber, Jose Carlos Clemente, Dan Knights, Rob Knight and Jeffrey I. Gordon ()
Additional contact information
Tanya Yatsunenko: Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine
Federico E. Rey: Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine
Mark J. Manary: Washington University School of Medicine
Indi Trehan: Washington University School of Medicine
Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello: University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico 00931-3360
Monica Contreras: Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC), Carretera Panamericana, Km 11, Altos de Pipe, Venezuela
Magda Magris: Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases (CAICET), Puerto Ayacucho 7101, Amazonas, Venezuela
Glida Hidalgo: Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases (CAICET), Puerto Ayacucho 7101, Amazonas, Venezuela
Robert N. Baldassano: The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Andrey P. Anokhin: Washington University School of Medicine
Andrew C. Heath: Washington University School of Medicine
Barbara Warner: Washington University School of Medicine
Jens Reeder: University of Colorado
Justin Kuczynski: University of Colorado
J. Gregory Caporaso: Northern Arizona University
Catherine A. Lozupone: University of Colorado
Christian Lauber: University of Colorado
Jose Carlos Clemente: University of Colorado
Dan Knights: University of Colorado
Rob Knight: University of Colorado
Jeffrey I. Gordon: Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine

Nature, 2012, vol. 486, issue 7402, 222-227

Abstract: Abstract Gut microbial communities represent one source of human genetic and metabolic diversity. To examine how gut microbiomes differ among human populations, here we characterize bacterial species in fecal samples from 531 individuals, plus the gene content of 110 of them. The cohort encompassed healthy children and adults from the Amazonas of Venezuela, rural Malawi and US metropolitan areas and included mono- and dizygotic twins. Shared features of the functional maturation of the gut microbiome were identified during the first three years of life in all three populations, including age-associated changes in the genes involved in vitamin biosynthesis and metabolism. Pronounced differences in bacterial assemblages and functional gene repertoires were noted between US residents and those in the other two countries. These distinctive features are evident in early infancy as well as adulthood. Our findings underscore the need to consider the microbiome when evaluating human development, nutritional needs, physiological variations and the impact of westernization.

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1038/nature11053

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