The Shaping of Our Gut Microbiome
Written by Aditi Mahajan
Edited by Mckenna Ma
July 31st 2021
Edited by Mckenna Ma
July 31st 2021
Human microbiome research has shown that our microbial composition can influence our level of health. An important element to understanding how our microbiomes function is understanding the factors that influence their formation. This means answering the question: what microbes are in our gut and what causes different people to have different gut microbiomes?
This question was tested by a group of researchers at the University of Oregon. Researchers observed the gut microbiomes of adopted children and compared them to the gut microbiomes of their biological siblings who lived in a different household. Their aim was to test whether gut microbiomes are shaped more by our genetics or by a shared environment. The study included 74 children who lived in a total of 39 different households and varied in terms of BMI, sex, and age (Tavalire et al., 2021). Feces samples were collected and analyzed using sequencing kits through the process of marker gene sequencing which amplified the 16s rRNA gene (Tavalire et al., 2021). The genes of the microbes found were then inputted into an online database for identification (Tavalire et al., 2021).
The researchers found that a shared home was the most significant factor for gut microbiome similarity between two children (Tavalire et al., 2021). The microbiomes of the adopted children who lived in houses with genetically non-similar siblings were more similar to each other than the adopted children’s microbiomes to their genetically related siblings (Tavalire et al., 2021). Adoption in early youth results in a statistically significant shift in the gut microbial composition of children compared to children who remain in the same household as their biological mothers (Tavalire et al., 2021). Up to six percent of microbial variations can be accounted for based on local living conditions (Tavalire et al., 2021). By sharing a household environment, people tend to share similar diets, hygiene practices, and use of surfaces. These are all significant factors that determine gut microbial composition.
The results of this study can potentially be used to reverse adverse health complications by altering the microbial composition of children. This can have profound health implications as early life environments can affect kids' health many years down the line, (Tanaka & Nakayama, 2017). It is important to conduct more research on how one’s genetics and environment shape one’s gut microbiome. For now, it seems that nurture wins out in the age-old nature versus nurture debate.
References
Tanaka, M., Nakayama, J. (2017). Development of the gut microbiota in infancy and its impact on health in later life. Allergology International 66(4), 515–522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alit.2017.07.010.
Tavalire, H. F., Christie, D. M., Leve, L. D., Ting, N., Cresko, W. A., & Bohannan, B. J. M.. (2021). Shared Environment and Genetics Shape the Gut Microbiome after Infant Adoption. Mbio, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.00548-21