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Gut microbial similarity in twins is driven by shared environment and aging
Ramiro Vilchez-Vargas1, Jurgita Skieceviciene2, Konrad Lehr1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Section of Molecular Gastroenterology and Microbiota-associated Diseases, Otto-von-Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44, Magdeburg 39120, Germany.
Ebiomedicine
|May 1, 2022
Summary
Aging and household sharing significantly impact gut microbiome similarity in twins, regardless of genetic relatedness. These factors, not genetics or birth mode, drive microbial drift over time.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Human gut microbiome is shaped by genetics, diet, and environment.
- Investigated microbial composition across gastrointestinal (GI) compartments in twins.
- Evaluated the influence of genetics, delivery mode, diet, household sharing, and aging on twin microbial similarity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine factors influencing gut microbiome similarity in twins.
- To differentiate the impact of host genetics versus environmental factors on microbial composition.
- To assess the role of aging and household sharing in microbial drift.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed fecal, biopsy, and saliva samples from 108 twins.
- Used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to profile bacterial communities.
- Applied Bray-Curtis similarity, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman tests for analysis.
Main Results:
- Upper GI microbiome depended on Helicobacter pylori status.
- Lower GI microbiome similarity was driven by household sharing and aging.
- Microbial similarity decreased with aging, with shared phylotypes diminishing and non-shared ones increasing.
Conclusions:
- Aging and shared household are key determinants of gut microbial similarity in twins.
- Host genetics and delivery mode had no significant influence on lower GI microbiome similarity.
- Microbial composition shows significant drift influenced by environmental and aging factors.
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