Associations Between Genetic Material and Human Microbiome

The microbiome has been the subject of study since humans realized bacteria could be as interesting, dynamic, and even symbiotically beneficial as it can be harmful. A biome is just the flora/fauna that naturally occupy and major habitat, likewise the microbiome is just the biome of microbes/bacteria that occupy places like...humans, or plants, or well anything. Twin studies of the past have determined some of our microbiome must be inherited. The University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen Department of Genetics have posted results on a study looking into the relationships between human DNA and the microbiome on humans and they’ve identified loci and genes that hold some influence over one’s microbiome years later. Through the metagenomic sequencing of 984 participants’ stool samples (supplemented with dietary information) three associations were found.

The first association was between a gene that predisposes hypolactasia (a lack of lactase which is obviously linked to lactose intolerance) and amount of Bifidobacterium present. Milk intake was not different among the people with and without this gene with the only difference being those with the lactase deficient genotype had a higher Bifidobacterium content.

The next association was between the c-type lectin genes which code for fungal and bacterial receptors as well as responses to such organisms’ cytokine effects. Those working on this study has therefore deemed the c-type lectin receptors as a good path to altering the microbiome. The third association the researchers were expecting to find came up empty; the gene variation in the HLA adaptive immune system could not be associated to the microbiome.

The researchers hope to draw more more conclusions about genetic diseases and the microbiome after seeing the relationships above. If such relationships exists it may lead to alternate treatments.

links: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-10-human-genes-affect-microbiome.html

Type 2 Diabetes Revealed By Gut Bacteria

This article details the findings of both the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and the Beijing Genetics Institute (BGI) of China in that though the study of “metagenomics” that results have displayed numerous ways in which gut bacteria in a person afflicted by type 2 diabetes are significantly discrete in comparison to individuals without the disease. Metagenomics is defined as the examination of DNA patterns within colonies instead of within individual organisms. It should be noted that the presence of these identified gut bacteria do not necessary mean that the bacteria are the cause of the disease itself, they merely note the presence of the disease. However, Danish researchers are examining this issue by injected healthy mice with these type 2 diabetes gut bacteria and examining the results. Experts note the shocking increase in diagnosis of individuals with type 2 diabetes, and believe that the numbers are even higher, masked by the fact that so many individuals do not even know that they are living with the disease.

The information that this research provides, even if it is found that the bacteria do not cause the disease, will have a resounding effect of the medical world. Having the ability to test and find if the individual has diabetes so much earlier would permit patients to more quickly react and change their lifestyle to prevent future heath repercussions. Even more so along this path, if additional research finds that these bacteria are indeed the cause of type 2 diabetes, I cannot  imagine how beneficial, though of course optimistically many years in the future, a medication or treatment would be that could eliminate or reduce the impact of such bacteria in afflicted individuals. I know many family members and friends who struggle with type 2 diabetes and can see how powerful such a discovery, and potential treatment, could be in their lives, not to mention for the thousands of other afflicted individuals worldwide.

The Viruses Virus

Using a technique known as metagenomics, researchers from the University of Maryland and the University of New South Wales have recently discovered the third known Virophage. The Virophage, known as Organic Lake Virophage (OLV) was discovered in Antarctica’s Organic Lake. It will actually infect and propagate inside a larger master virus that is already infecting a host cell, in this situation it was a phycodnavirus infecting marine algae. Unlike Satellite viruses which do not interfere with the master virus, OLV will greatly reduce the amount of viral particles produced and thereby benefit the host cell by slowing down the cell lysis process. One of the most interesting discoveries in OLV research was that it was found to share genes with the its master virus, indicating OLVs ability to transfer genes to and copy genes from viruses. After the discovery of OLV the research team referred to a database of metagenomic data and found known OLV genes in multiple locations including an estuary in New Jersey, a freshwater lake in Panama and the Galapagos islands. These discoveries will no doubt lead to new theories on evolutionary genetics. It is fascinating to think that there are these Virophages which can infect and reduce the production of viruses and also transfer genes between viruses. I think these discoveries will greatly help in the argument of whether or not viruses are alive, considering that they themselves can be parasitized.

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