Cited by 341Gut microbiota and healthGenomics and Phylogenetic StudiesGenetic Associations and Epidemiology

Shotgun Metagenomics of 250 Adult Twins Reveals Genetic and Environmental Impacts on the Gut Microbiome

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Xie, Hailiang, Guo, Ruijin, Zhong, Huanzi, Feng, Qiang, Lan, Zhou, Qin, Bingcai, Ward, Kirsten J., Jackson, Matthew A. +17 more·2016·Cell Systems

Abstract

The gut microbiota has been typically viewed as an environmental factor for human health. Twins are well suited for investigating the concordance of their gut microbiomes and decomposing genetic and environmental influences. However, existing twin studies utilizing metagenomic shotgun sequencing have included only a few samples. Here, we sequenced fecal samples from 250 adult twins in the TwinsUK registry and constructed a comprehensive gut microbial reference gene catalog. We demonstrate heritability of many microbial taxa and functional modules in the gut microbiome, including those associated with diseases. Moreover, we identified 8 million SNPs in the gut microbiome and observe a high similarity in microbiome SNPs between twins that slowly decreases after decades of living apart. The results shed new light on the genetic and environmental influences on the composition and function of the gut microbiome that could relate to risk of complex diseases.

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Authors
Xie, H., Guo, R., Zhong, H., Feng, Q., Lan, Z., Qin, B., Ward, K. J., Jackson, M. A., Xia, Y., Chen, X., Chen, B., Xia, H., Xu, C., Li, F., Xu, X., Al-Aama, J. Y., Yang, H., Wang, J., Kristiansen, K., Wang, J., Steves, C. J., Bell, J. T., Li, J., Spector, T. D., & Jia, H.
Affiliations
  • BGI Group (China) (CN)
  • King's College London (GB)
Corresponding author
  • Li, Junhua
  • Jia, Huijue
Venue
Cell Systems
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-12
Volume
3
Issue
6
Pages
572-584.e3
ISSN
2405-4712 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2548330566
Cited by
341
References
87
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 47 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 15
FWCI
15.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Systems (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (105022/Z/14/Z)
  • NIH (RO1 DK093595, DP2 OD007444)
  • Shenzhen Municipal Government of China (JSGG20140702161403250, DRC-SZ[2015]162, CXB201108250098A, JSGG20160229172752028, JCYJ20160229172757249)
  • Fund for Science and Technology Development (FDCT) (077/2014/A2)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
Keywords
gut microbiota, twins, heritability, genetic factors, environmental influences, microbial taxa, functional modules, TwinsUK, fecal microbiota, complex diseases

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