Gut microbiome and its interplay with environment and health - lessons from the Dutch Microbiome Project

Prof. Alexandra Zhernakova
University Medical Center Groningen
The gut microbiome composition is highly variable between individuals and is linked to various traits and health conditions. In the Dutch Microbiome Project, that includes 10,000 individuals from the population cohort Lifelines, we explored the composition and functionality of the gut microbiome and linked it to environmental, genetic, and health parameters of individuals.

Using the family structure of the cohort, we determined the proportion of heritable bacteria and identified genetic association in two loci – LCT and ABO – to multiple gut bacteria and their pathways. Environmental factors, such as diet quality score, presence of pets, urban conditions during childhood, and air quality were associated to multiple gut species and pathways. We identified a shared profile of gut bacteria across many diseases and determined the key features of healthy and unhealthy gut microbiomes.

We also determined the stability of the gut microbiome in a longitudinal 4-year follow-up analysis and identified that strain replacements in bacteria correspond to variations in host health parameters, such as changes in BMI and use of drugs. On the other hand, a substantial proportion of bacteria is stable over time, and can be used as an individual’s bacterial fingerprint.