title: Rural and urban microbiota: To be or not to be?
abstract: A multitude of metagenomic studies has brought to light an enormous richness of human gut microbiota compositions. In this space of possible configurations, clinical specialists are trying to mine the markers of healthy microbiota via case-control and longitudinal studies. We have discovered potentially beneficial communities while examining the microbial diversity in rural Russians in comparison with the urban dwellers. In this addendum, we further examine the data by elaborating on some of the less common types and suggesting the possible co-metabolism of their drivers. In the light of the first validated clinically effective bacterial transplantation, we discuss the concept of a reference healthy microbiota, outline the problems encountered on the way to its restoration in the developed world, and speculate if rural communities can serve as a source for its prototype.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Medicine; Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Tyakht
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Medicine; Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology; Dolgoprudny, Russia.
authors.forename: Dmitry G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Alexeev
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Medicine; Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Anna S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Popenko
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Medicine; Moscow, Russia; Kazan' (Volga Region) Federal University; Kazan', Russia.
authors.forename: Elena S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kostryukova
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Medicine; Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology; Dolgoprudny, Russia; Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Vadim M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Govorun
mesh_terms: D058448:Biota; D015331:Cohort Studies; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D056186:Metagenomics; D064307:Microbiota; D012424:Rural Population; D012426:Russia; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Russian metagenome; fecal mass transplantation; gut microbiota; intestinal microbiome; markers of healthy microbiota; metagenomics; stool donor matching