Reconstruction of ancient microbial genomes from the human gut.

ABSTRACT: Loss of gut microbial diversity^1-6 in industrial populations is associated with chronic diseases⁷, underscoring the importance of studying our ancestral gut microbiome. However, relatively little is known about the composition of pre-industrial gut microbiomes. Here we performed a large-scale de novo assembly of microbial genomes from palaeofaeces. From eight authenticated human palaeofaeces samples (1,000-2,000 years old) with well-preserved DNA from southwestern USA and Mexico, we reconstructed 498 medium- and high-quality microbial genomes. Among the 181 genomes with the strongest evidence of being ancient and of human gut origin, 39% represent previously undescribed species-level genome bins. Tip dating suggests an approximate diversification timeline for the key

SUBMITTER: Wibowo MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8189908 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature