Gene decided 'household' bacteria

New research shows that human genes may have a decisive say about which bacteria can 'enter' into our bodies.

Recent studies have shown that the collection of bacteria living in and on the human body is linked to a number of diseases. But what determines which bacteria resides in a human host is still a mystery. Diet and geography have a partial impact, in addition to the "entry" of bacteria into the body due to genetic decisions, according to Ran Blekhman, geneticist at Cornell University (USA). ) - identified on the Science news page.

Gene governs the localization of bacteria in the body

Blekhman and colleagues used the data collected in the framework of a project of the National Institute of Human Genome Research (USA), to genetically statistics the bacteria that live in and on the body. people. By comparing DNA data of humans and bacteria, the researchers found 51 human gene variants related to the ' abundance' of certain bacteria living in or over 15 areas of the body. . People with a gene variant near the PCSK2 gene , which is involved in insulin production, have many Bacteroides in the gut. This genetic variant is also associated with type 2 diabetes, so the abundance of Bacteroides is also associated with this disease. In other cases, people with a variant of CXCL12 related to inflammatory diseases also have more Granulicatella bacteria on their skin. This bacterium is related to dermatitis.

According to Blekhman, it is not yet possible to determine whether the bacteria that cause disease in people with certain gene variants or vice versa, the disease caused by gene variants leads to a stronger growth of a number of bacteria?

Benjamin Voight, a genetic specialist at the University of Pennsylvania (USA), said that doctors can use these bacteria collections as warning signs of patients at risk of certain diseases. . However, researchers will first need to establish a convincing statistical argument that genes, diseases and bacteria are closely related.