Profiling the fecal microbiome and its modulators across the lifespan in the Netherlands

David Boverhoff, Jolanda Kool, Roan Pijnacker, Quinten R Ducarmon, Georg Zeller, Sudarshan Shetty, Stephan Sie, Annemieke Christine Mulder, Fiona van der Klis, Eelco Franz, Lapo Mughini-Gras, Debbie van Baarle, Susana Fuentes*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Defining what constitutes a healthy microbiome throughout our lives remains an ongoing challenge. Understanding to what extent host and environmental factors can influence it has been the primary motivation for large population studies worldwide. Here, we describe the fecal microbiome of 3,746 individuals (0-87 years of age) in a nationwide study in the Netherlands, in association with extensive questionnaires. We validate previous findings, such as infant-adult trajectories, and explore the collective impact of our variables, which explain over 40% of the variation in microbiome composition. We identify associations with less explored factors, particularly those ethnic related, which show the largest impact on the adult microbiome composition, diversity, metabolic profiles, and CAZy (carbohydrate-active enzyme) repertoires. Understanding the sources of microbiome variability is crucial, given its potential as a modifiable target with therapeutic possibilities. With this work, we aim to serve as a foundational element for the design of health interventions and fundamental research.

Original languageEnglish
Article number114729
Number of pages1
JournalCell Reports
Volume43
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Sept 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Funding

This study was supported by the Strategic Program RIVM (SPR) and the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. The funding source had no involvement in the design, conduct, and analysis of the study and/or preparation of the article. We would like to thank all participants and colleagues involved in the PIENTER III study. We would also like to thank P. Konstanti and L. Tymchenko for their assistance throughout this study and helpful discussions. This work received funding from EMBL (to G.Z. and Q.R.D.) and the Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim through state funds approved by the State Parliament of Baden-Wurttemberg (Postdoctoral Fellowship to Q.R.D.).

FundersFunder number
Strategic Program RIVM (SPR)
Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
EMBL
Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim through state funds

    Keywords

    • 16S rRNA gene sequencing
    • CP: Microbiology
    • PIENTER-III
    • cross-sectional
    • gut microbiome
    • microbial ecology
    • population studies
    • the Netherlands

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