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Enterotypes of the human gut microbiome
Manimozhiyan Arumugam1, Jeroen Raes, Eric Pelletier
1European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
Nature
|April 22, 2011
Summary
Three distinct human gut microbiome enterotypes exist globally, irrespective of nationality. These enterotypes represent stable symbiotic states and may influence responses to diet and medication.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genomics
- Human Health
Background:
- Human gut microbiome research is expanding, but global variations and their drivers remain poorly understood.
- Current knowledge relies on limited cohorts, necessitating broader international studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize global patterns of human gut microbial composition.
- To investigate the relationship between host properties and gut microbiome structure.
- To explore the functional implications of microbial community structure.
Main Methods:
- Combined 22 new fecal metagenomes with existing datasets from four countries.
- Utilized bioinformatic analyses to identify microbial clusters (enterotypes).
- Validated enterotype findings in two independent, larger cohorts.
Main Results:
- Identified three robust, non-nation-specific gut microbial enterotypes.
- Confirmed enterotypes are stratified, not continuous, across populations.
- Found that abundant species do not always provide abundant molecular functions.
- Discovered host-specific marker genes and functional modules correlating with age and BMI.
Conclusions:
- Human gut microbiome variation is characterized by a limited number of enterotypes.
- Enterotypes represent distinct host-microbial symbiotic states with potential implications for diet and drug responses.
- Microbial markers may offer diagnostic potential for host properties like age and BMI.
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