Predominant role of host genetics in controlling the composition of gut microbiota.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by a very diverse symbiotic microbiota, the composition of which depends on host genetics and the environment. Several studies suggested that the host genetics may influence the composition of gut microbiota but no genes involved in host control were proposed. We investigated the effects of the wild type and mutated alleles of the gene, which encodes the protein called pyrin, one of the regulators of innate immunity, on the composition of gut commensal bacteria. Mutations in MEFV lead to the autoinflammatory disorder, familial Mediterranean fever (FMF, MIM249100), which is characterized by recurrent self-resolving attacks of fever and polyserositis, with no clinical signs of disease in remission.

Methodology/principal find

SUBMITTER: Khachatryan ZA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2516932 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature