Longitudinal 16S rRNA gut microbiota data of infant triplets show partial susceptibility to host genetics
Ondina Palmeira,
Larissa R.B. Matos,
Michel S. Naslavsky,
Heloisa M.S. Bueno,
Júlia P. Soler,
João C. Setubal,
Mayana Zatz
Affiliations
Ondina Palmeira
Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
Larissa R.B. Matos
Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
Michel S. Naslavsky
Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil; Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil; Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP 05652-900, Brazil
Heloisa M.S. Bueno
Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil; Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
Júlia P. Soler
Department of Statistics, Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
João C. Setubal
Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil; Corresponding author
Mayana Zatz
Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil; Corresponding author
Summary: The question of whether host genetics plays a role in the development of the infant gut microbiota does not, as yet, have a clear answer. In order to throw additional light on this question, we have analyzed 16S rRNA amplicon sequences from 99 valid fecal samples of five sets of dichorionic triplet babies born by C-section from 1 to 36 months of age. Beta diversity analysis showed that monozygotic twins were more similar to each other than their dizygotic siblings. Monozygotic twins also tended to share more amplicon sequence variants between them. Heritability analysis showed that the genera Bacteroides and Veillonella are particularly susceptible to host genetics. We conclude that infant gut microbiota development is influenced by host genetics, but this effect is subtle and may affect only certain bacterial taxa during a limited time period early in life.
