Migration effects on the intestinal microbiota of Tibetans
Tian Liang,
Fang Liu,
Lifeng Ma,
Zhiying Zhang,
Lijun Liu,
Tingting Huang,
Jing Li,
Wenxue Dong,
Han Zhang,
Yansong Li,
Yaqiong Jiang,
Weimin Ye,
Su Bai,
Longli Kang
Affiliations
Tian Liang
Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shannxi Province, China
Fang Liu
Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shannxi Province, China
Lifeng Ma
Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shannxi Province, China
Zhiying Zhang
Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shannxi Province, China
Lijun Liu
Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shannxi Province, China
Tingting Huang
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Jing Li
Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shannxi Province, China
Wenxue Dong
Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shannxi Province, China
Han Zhang
Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shannxi Province, China
Yansong Li
Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shannxi Province, China
Yaqiong Jiang
Zashe Community Health Service Center, Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Weimin Ye
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Su Bai
Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shannxi Province, China
Longli Kang
Key Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Intervention Research on High Altitude Disease of Tibet Autonomous Region, School of Medicine, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shannxi Province, China
Background Diet, environment, and genomic context have a significant impact on humans’ intestinal microbiota. Moreover, migration may be accompanied by changes in human eating habits and living environment, which could, in turn, affect the intestinal microbiota. Located in southwestern China, Tibet has an average altitude of 4,000 meters and is known as the world’s roof. Xianyang is situated in the plains of central China, with an average altitude of about 400 meters. Methods To understand the association between intestinal microbiota and population migration, we collected the fecal samples from 30 Tibetan women on the first day (as TI1st), six months (as TI2nd), and ten months (as TI3rd) following migration from Tibet to Xianyang. Fecal samples were collected from 29 individuals (belonging to the Han women) as a control. The dietary information of the Tibetan women and the Han women was gathered. We performed a 16S rRNA gene survey of the collected fecal samples using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Results Following the migration, the alpha and beta diversity of Tibetan women’s intestinal microbiota appeared unaffected. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis showed that Klebsiella, Blautia, and Veillonella are potential biomarkers at TI1st, while Proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae were common in TI3rd. Finally, functional prediction by phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) found no significant up-regulation or down-regulation gene pathway in the intestinal microbiota of Tibetan women after migration. The present study reveals that the higher stability in Tibetan women’s intestinal microbiota was less affected by the environment and diet, indicating that Tibetan women’s intestinal microbiota is relatively stable. The main limitations of the study were the small sample size and all volunteers were women.
