Geography, Ethnicity or Subsistence-Specific Variations in Human Microbiome Composition and Diversity

Area of Science:

• Human Microbiome Research
• Microbial Ecology
• Population Genetics

Background:

• Characterizing the healthy human microbiota is crucial for understanding its role in health and disease.
• Recent research highlights significant variations in microbiome structure among healthy individuals of different races and ethnicities.
• These divergences underscore the need to investigate factors influencing microbiome composition across diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of geography, ethnicity, and lifestyle-specific variations in the healthy human microbiome.
• To examine microbiome composition across five major body habitats: Gut, Oral-cavity, Respiratory Tract, Skin, and Urogenital Tract (UGT).
• To identify trends in microbiome evolution and factors contributing to observed variations.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing published data on human microbiome composition.
• Analysis of microbiome variations across different subsistence stages (foraging, farming, industrialized western).
• Identification of core microbiota genera common to all populations and factors influencing geographical alterations.

Main Results:

• Significant variations exist in the gut microbiome, with hunter-gatherer populations showing abundance in Prevotella and urban communities enriched in Bacteroides.
• Oral and skin microbiomes exhibit notable diversity variations, while respiratory tract and UGT microbiomes show lesser differences.
• Core microbiota genera were identified, and factors like diet, hygiene, host genetics, and environment were implicated in shaping microbiome structure.

Conclusions:

• Human microbiome composition is not universal and displays significant population-specific variations.
• Observed variations question the applicability of one-size-fits-all microbiome-based therapeutic strategies.
• Geographically tailored and community-scale approaches are recommended for microbiome engineering and therapeutic interventions.