Diversity in gut bacterial community of school-age children in Asia

• DOI: 10.1038/srep08397
• Publication Date: 2015-02-23T10:17:13Z
• Authors: Jiro Nakayama; Koichi Watanabe; Jiahui Jiang; Kazunori Matsuda; Shiou-Huei Chao; Pri Haryono; Orawan La-ongkham; Martinus-Agus Sar...; I. Nengah Sujaya; Liang Zhao; Kang-Ting Chen; Yen-Po Chen; Hsueh-Hui Chiu; Tomoko Hidaka; Ning- Xin Huang; Chikako Kiyohara; Takashi Kurakawa; Naoshige Sakamoto; Kenji Sonomoto; Kousuke Tashiro; Hirokazu Tsuji; Ming-Ju Chen; Vichai Leelavatch...; Chii-Cherng Liao; Sunee Nitisinprasert; Endang S. Rahayu; Fa-Zheng Ren; Ying-Chieh Tsai; Yuan-Kun Lee
• Keywords: Prevotella; Phylotype

Abstract Asia differs substantially among and within its regions populated by diverse ethnic groups, which maintain their own respective cultures dietary habits. To address the diversity in gut microbiota, we characterized bacterial community fecal samples obtained from 303 school-age children living urban or rural five countries spanning temperate tropical areas of Asia. The microbiota profiled for subjects were classified into two enterotype-like clusters, each driven Prevotella (P-type) Bifidobacterium / Bacteroides (BB-type), respectively. Majority China, Japan Taiwan harbored BB-type, whereas those Indonesia Khon Kaen Thailand mainly P-type. P-type was a more conserved sharing greater number type-specific phylotypes. Predictive metagenomics suggests higher lower activity carbohydrate digestion bile acid biosynthesis, respectively, subjects, reflecting high intake diets rich resistant starch. Random-forest analysis species as mirroring location resident country, suggesting eco-geographical factors shaping microbiota. In particular, less diversified with abundance potentially pathogenic bacteria, may reflect environment unique diet.