The Role of Host Genetics in Determining Gut Microbiome Composition

Emily Davenport, Penn State Huck Institute of the Life Sciences

April 21, 2016 @ 05:00 pm to 06:30 pm

102 Chemistry Building

Abstract: Billions of single-celled organisms colonize the human body and are known to be important for the etiology and severity of a number of diseases including obesity, asthma, and even cancer. Understanding the factors that determine microbiome composition is therefore of great importance to human health. While environmental factors, such as diet, have been studied extensively, relatively little is known about the role that host genetics plays in determining gut microbiome composition. To address this gap, I examined the role of host genetics in determining the gut microbiome in multiple Western populations. First, genome-wide association studies revealed associations of bacterial abundance to host genetic variation in the Hutterites, an isolated, communal-living founder population in the United States. Additionally, analysis in a large cohort of twins from the United Kingdom highlights regulation of gene expression in the colon as a mechanism for how host genetic variation may influence microbial abundance in the gut. Finally, in-depth analysis of blood group antigen presentation and secretion into the gut in the cohort of UK twins revealed evidence contradictory to previous studies regarding the role of ABO and secretor status. These studies demonstrate that human genetic variation plays a role in determining microbiome composition.

Contact

Erin King
euk2@psu.edu
814 865-2625