Individuality in gut microbiota composition is a complex polygenic trait shaped by multiple environmental and host genetic factors

In vertebrates, including humans, individuals harbor gut microbial communities whose species composition and relative proportions of dominant microbial groups are tremendously varied. Although external and stochastic factors clearly contribute to the individuality of the microbiota, the fundamental principles dictating how environmental factors and host genetic factors combine to shape this complex ecosystem are largely unknown and require systematic study. Here we examined factors that affect microbiota composition in a large (n = 645) mouse advanced intercross line originating from a cross between C57BL/6J and an ICR-derived outbred line (HR). Quantitative pyrosequencing of the microbiota defined a core…

• NC
  North Carolina State University
• MS
  Michigan State University
• UO
  University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• CO
  College of Engineering, Michigan State University
• NI
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

  Awards: DK056350, DK076050