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Changes in human gut flora with age: an Indian familial study
Nachiket Marathe1, Sudarshan Shetty, Vikram Lanjekar
11Microbial Culture Collection, National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, Pune- 411 007, Maharashtra, India.
BMC Microbiology
|September 28, 2012
Summary
Gut microbiome composition changes with age within Indian families. This age-related shift in gut bacteria, including novel species and altered Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios, differs from Western populations, highlighting unique Indian gut flora characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Human Physiology
- Genetics
Background:
- The gut microbiome significantly impacts host health, physiology, and nutrition.
- Microbial composition varies across ethnic groups due to genetic and environmental factors.
- Understanding the gut flora of diverse populations, like Indians, is crucial due to physiological differences from Western populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the gut microflora composition in Indian individuals across different generations within families.
- To identify age-related variations in gut microbial communities in the Indian population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of gut microflora using Denaturation Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE).
- Clone library analysis to identify dominant bacterial genera.
- Isolation of obligate anaerobes and 16S rRNA gene sequencing for novel species identification.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR) to determine Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes abundance.
Main Results:
- DGGE revealed age-dependent variations in gut microflora within families.
- Clone library analysis showed distinct dominant bacterial genera associated with different age groups.
- A significant percentage (27%) of isolated obligate anaerobes were potential novel species.
- qPCR demonstrated a decrease in Firmicutes and an increase in Bacteroidetes with increasing age, differing from European population patterns.
Conclusions:
- Gut flora composition exhibits age-related changes within Indian families.
- The prevalence of novel bacterial species and the distinct Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio pattern suggest unique gut microbiome characteristics in the Indian population compared to Western populations.
- Further extensive research is necessary to fully characterize the Indian gut flora.
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