The Role of Genes in Immunity and the Microbiome of the Human Body

In a recent study done by scientists at the American Society of Human Genetics, the human genes in immunity related pathways were found to be likely associated with the composition of an individuals microbiome. Areas of the human body are colonized by vast quantities of microorganisms and "shifts in the composition of species have been associated with multiple chronic conditions," said Ran Blekhman, PhD assistant professor of department of genetics, cel biology and development at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Blekhman and collaborators found evidence of genetic influence on microbiome composition at 15 sites of 93 people surveyed. Genetic variation was found to correlate at an individual and species level.

At the individual level principle component analysis showed that genetic variation correlated with the overall structure of a persons microbiome. At the the species level potential correlation between host genetic variation and the abundance of a single bacterial species was identified. The bacterial species were identified using data from the Human Microbiome Project, an international program to genetically catalog the microbial residents of the human body. Using a system level association here, the study showed that variation in genes related to immune system pathways at 15 host body sites.
Genes in pathways linked to composition of an individuals microbiome were found to vary significantly across populations. According to Dr. Blekhman, "the results highlight the role of host immunity in determining bacteria levels across the body and support a possible role for the microbiome in driving evolution of bacteria associated host genes."

This research  shows how important the role of genetics and ecological composition can be inside the human body. Knowing people differ not only genetically but even at the level of a microbiome can prove useful in medicine and when utilizing treatments.




http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131024121808.htm
http://mpkb.org/home/pathogenesis/microbiota