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Symbiotic gut microbes modulate human metabolic phenotypes

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Original article citation

M. Li, B. Wang, M. Zhang, M. Rantalainen, S. Wang, H. Zhou, Y. Zhang, J. Shen, X. Pang, M. Zhang, H. Wei, Y. Chen, H. Lu, J. Zuo, M. Su, Y. Qiu, W. Jia, C. Xiao, L. M. Smith, S. Yang, E. Holmes, H. Tang, G. Zhao, J. K. Nicholson, L. Li, L. Zhao, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105, 2117-2122, (2007).

Categories: Clinical Medicine and Earth & Environment

Recommended by: Timon Cheng-Yi Liu on 02/22/2008 01:29AM GMT

Reasons for recommending: Each of us carries a community of microorganisms in our intestinal tract that is necessary for optimal health but varies in composition from person to person. To learn which gut microbes most influence human physiology, Li et al. surveyed these symbionts in seven members of a four-generation Chinese family. By sequencing rRNA genes, they assembled a phylogenetic picture of the resident microbes-mainly Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes spp. The Chinese microbiomes showed individual and male/female differences in their composition, although all differed markedly from those seen in Americans. A parallel analysis of urine samples from the same family allowed the authors to correlate variations in resident microbes with variations in excreted metabolites, which served as a proxy for the individuals' metabolic state. They found several microbial species that appeared to significantly affect their hosts: for instance, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was associated with the presence of dimethylamine, suggested to be an indicator of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. This functional metagenomics approach can be extended by combining full genomic sequencing of the microbes with measurements of metabolic or clinical features of interest. Ultimately, the hope is to identify which gut inhabitants are associated with disease states and which with human well-being.

  • Comments

        • Comments from the following website http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/2008/02/06/study_maps_gut_microflora/6812/ LONDON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A British-Chinese study has mapped the bacteria living in seven members of a Chinese family to determine the role of gut microbes in bodily processes. The researchers from Imperial College London and China's Jiao Tong University said the makeup of each person's gut microflora influences their health, with abnormalities in gut microbes linked to diseases such as diabetes and obesity. However, the relationship between different species of bacteria and different processes has previously been defined only at a broad level, the scientists said, noting that prior to their study, only five people had had their gut microflora profiled in depth, with that data being published. "Now we have developed a new way of exploring the connections between bugs and man we can hope to find a 'Rosetta Stone' to translate the functional properties of the bugs and so improve therapies to treat disorders of the gut and related conditions," said Imperial College London Professor Jeremy Nicholson, lead author of the study. The research, led by Professor Liping Zhao of Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
        • Posted by:
        • Our body is a complex machine. Some microorganisms are essential for us to survive. In our research,we found a community of microorganisms in our body is likely a key factor for an athlete to get excellent performance in competition. Therefore, this paper is helpful for us to better understand the relationship between us and microorganisms.
        • Posted by:
          • Jianghua Li
          • 02/23/2008 12:42AM GMT
        • I love drawing cartoon and like Moyashimon. Li et al's paper is very interesting.
        • Posted by:
          • Tang Yi-Fei Liu
          • 02/23/2008 01:48PM GMT
        • it is wonderful
        • Posted by:
          • li xiaoyun
          • 02/23/2008 04:16PM GMT
        • It's a very interesting and useful work!
        • Posted by:
          • XG Liu
          • 02/24/2008 03:59AM GMT
        • It's a very interesting and useful work!
        • Posted by:
          • XG Liu
          • 02/24/2008 02:16PM GMT
        • it is indeed wonderful !
        • Posted by:
          • ray jim ben
          • 02/27/2008 09:18AM GMT
        • it is wonderful
        • Posted by:
          • ray jim ben
          • 02/27/2008 09:19AM GMT
        • It is very interesting.And it indicates that cooperation is required for a wouderful work.
        • Posted by:
          • Zhang Yi-ming
          • 02/29/2008 12:36PM GMT
        • It is very interesting. And it strongly indicates that cooperation is required to accomplish a wonderful work.
        • Posted by:
          • Zhang Yi-ming
          • 02/29/2008 12:42PM GMT
        • It is wonderful work
        • Posted by:
        • It is wonderful work
        • Posted by:
        • It is a meaning work
        • Posted by:
        • It is very wonderful
        • Posted by:
          • jinhua shang
          • 03/06/2008 03:29AM GMT
        • It's a very interesting and useful work!
        • Posted by:
          • jing su
          • 03/06/2008 03:40AM GMT
        • It's a very interesting and useful work!
        • Posted by:
        • It is very interesting
        • Posted by:
        • it is indeed wonderful !
        • Posted by:
          • jinhua shang
          • 03/11/2008 10:31AM GMT
        • It is very interesting. And it strongly indicates that cooperation is required to accomplish a wonderful work
        • Posted by:
          • zhipeng chen
          • 03/17/2008 05:58AM GMT
        • it is wonderful
        • Posted by:
          • jing su
          • 03/19/2008 01:22PM GMT
        • It is very interesting.
        • Posted by:
          • jinhua shang
          • 03/19/2008 01:31PM GMT
        • Symbiotic gut microbes function as an important factor in gastroenterology. Clinically, there are a lot of cases with disordered gut microfloras, either in composition or in activity. I think using the methodology described in the abstract might neglect many other factors, such as ecological, socioecnomical and so on. The broadly widened conclusion seems need substantial support from screening of more subjects.
        • Posted by:
          • Michael Gong
          • 04/11/2008 01:21PM GMT
        • Good paper!
        • Posted by:
          • Dong Chao
          • 04/12/2008 11:42AM GMT
        • I am not in this field, but I think it is wonderful.
        • Posted by:
          • ma lei
          • 04/14/2008 12:48PM GMT

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