Author: Zierer, J.; Jackson, M.A.; Kastenmuller, G.; Mangino, M.; Long, T.; Telenti, A.; Mohney, R.P.; Small, K.S.; Bell, J.T.; Steves, C.J.; Valdes, A.M.; Spector, T.D.; Menni, C.
Description: The human gut microbiome plays a key role in human health, but 16S characterization lacks quantitative functional annotation. The fecal metabolome provides a functional readout of microbial activity and can be used as an intermediate phenotype mediating host-microbiome interactions. In this comprehensive description of the fecal metabolome, examining 1,116 metabolites from 786 individuals from a population-based twin study (TwinsUK), the fecal metabolome was found to be only modestly influenced by host genetics (heritability (H(2)) = 17.9%). One replicated locus at the NAT2 gene was associated with fecal metabolic traits. The fecal metabolome largely reflects gut microbial composition, explaining on average 67.7% (+/-18.8%) of its variance. It is strongly associated with visceral-fat mass, thereby illustrating potential mechanisms underlying the well-established microbial influence on abdominal obesity. Fecal metabolic profiling thus is a novel tool to explore links among microbiome composition, host phenotypes, and heritable complex traits.
Subject Headings: Fecal metabolome; Gut microbiome; Readout; Microbiota
Publication year: 2018
Journal or book title: Nature Genetics
Volume: 50
Issue: 6
Pages: 790-795
Find the full text : https://www.strategian.com/fulltext/Zierer2018.pdf
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Type: Journal Article
Serial number: 2394