Gene Variation Analysis of Gut Bacteria Reveals Remarkable Stability

Data obtained by analyzing the genetic variation within the microbiome from the guts of more than 200 individuals revealed that each person contains a distinct microbiome gene profile and that this profile is remarkably stable.

Investigators at Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis, MO, USA) and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (Heidelberg, Germany) developed a framework for metagenomic variation analysis and applied it to 252 fecal metagenomes of 207 individuals from Europe and North America.

They reported in the December 5, 2012, online edition of the journal Nature that by using 7.4 billion reads aligned to 101 reference species, they detected 10.3 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 107,991 short insertions/deletions, and 1,051 structural variants. Subjects sampled at varying time intervals exhibited individuality and temporal stability of SNP variation patterns, despite considerable composition changes in the population of microorganisms in their digestive tracts.

“The microbial DNA in the intestine is remarkably stable, like a fingerprint,” said contributing author Dr. George Weinstock, professor of genetics and molecular microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine. “Even after a year, we could still distinguish individuals by the genetic signature of their microbial DNA.”

“Surprisingly, each of us can be identified by the collective DNA of our gut microbes,” said Dr. George Weinstock. “That collection is individualized, completely analogous to our human genome. Differences in the way individuals respond to various drugs or the way they use specific nutrients can be traced to the genetic variation in our microbial genes as well as in our human genes.”

The finding that each individual has a unique metagenomic genotype may be exploited in the future for the development of personalized diets or drug regimens.

Related Links:
Washington University School of Medicine
European Molecular Biology Laboratory