Systematic Characterization and Analysis of the Taxonomic Drivers of Functional Shifts in the Human Microbiome.

ABSTRACT: Comparative analyses of the human microbiome have identified both taxonomic and functional shifts that are associated with numerous diseases. To date, however, microbiome taxonomy and function have mostly been studied independently and the taxonomic drivers of functional imbalances have not been systematically identified. Here, we present FishTaco, an analytical and computational framework that integrates taxonomic and functional comparative analyses to accurately quantify taxon-level contributions to disease-associated functional shifts. Applying FishTaco to several large-scale metagenomic cohorts, we show that shifts in the microbiome's functional capacity can be traced back to specific taxa. Furthermore, the set of taxa driving functional shifts and their contribution levels vary marked

SUBMITTER: Manor O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5316541 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature