A sparse covarying unit that describes healthy and impaired human gut microbiota development

Science. 2019 Jul 12;365(6449):eaau4735. doi: 10.1126/science.aau4735.

Abstract

Characterizing the organization of the human gut microbiota is a formidable challenge given the number of possible interactions between its components. Using a statistical approach initially applied to financial markets, we measured temporally conserved covariance among bacterial taxa in the microbiota of healthy members of a Bangladeshi birth cohort sampled from 1 to 60 months of age. The results revealed an "ecogroup" of 15 covarying bacterial taxa that provide a concise description of microbiota development in healthy children from this and other low-income countries, and a means for monitoring community repair in undernourished children treated with therapeutic foods. Features of ecogroup population dynamics were recapitulated in gnotobiotic piglets as they transitioned from exclusive milk feeding to a fully weaned state consuming a representative Bangladeshi diet.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria / classification*
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Bangladesh
  • Bottle Feeding
  • Child Nutrition Disorders / diet therapy*
  • Child Nutrition Disorders / microbiology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diet*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / genetics
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / physiology*
  • Germ-Free Life*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Models, Animal
  • Swine
  • Weaning