title: Characterization of the gut microbiota of Papua New Guineans using reverse transcription quantitative PCR.
abstract: There has been considerable interest in composition of gut microbiota in recent years, leading to a better understanding of the role the gut microbiota plays in health and disease. Most studies have been limited in their geographical and socioeconomic diversity to high-income settings, and have been conducted using small sample sizes. To date, few analyses have been conducted in low-income settings, where a better understanding of the gut microbiome could lead to the greatest return in terms of health benefits. Here, we have used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting dominant and sub-dominant groups of microorganisms associated with human gut microbiome in 115 people living a subsistence lifestyle in rural areas of Papua New Guinea. Quantification of Clostridium coccoides group, C. leptum subgroup, C. perfringens, Bacteroides fragilis group, Bifidobacterium, Atopobium cluster, Prevotella, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Lactobacillus spp. was conducted. Principle coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed two dimensions with Prevotella, clostridia, Atopobium, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus and Staphylococcus grouping in one dimension, while B. fragilis, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus grouping in the second dimension. Highland people had higher numbers of most groups of bacteria detected, and this is likely a key factor for the differences revealed by PCoA between highland and lowland study participants. Age and sex were not major determinants in microbial population composition. The study demonstrates a gut microbial composition with some similarities to those observed in other low-income settings where traditional diets are consumed, which have previously been suggested to favor energy extraction from a carbohydrate rich diet.
authors: School of Applied and Biomedical Sciences, Federation University, Churchill, Australia; Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea.
authors: Andrew R
authors: AR
authors: Greenhill
authors: Yakult Central Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Hirokazu
authors: H
authors: Tsuji
authors: Yakult Central Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Kiyohito
authors: K
authors: Ogata
authors: Faculty of Nursing, The Japanese Red Cross Akita College of Nursing, Akita, Japan.
authors: Kazumi
authors: K
authors: Natsuhara
authors: Department of Human Ecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Ayako
authors: A
authors: Morita
authors: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Soli
authors: School of Applied and Biomedical Sciences, Federation University, Churchill, Australia.
authors: Jo-Ann
authors: JA
authors: Larkins
authors: Department of Human Ecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Kiyoshi
authors: K
authors: Tadokoro
authors: Faculty of Letter, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors: Shingo
authors: S
authors: Odani
authors: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Baba
authors: University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors: Yuichi
authors: Y
authors: Naito
authors: Department of Human Ecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Eriko
authors: E
authors: Tomitsuka
authors: Yakult Central Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Nomoto
authors: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea.
authors: Peter M
authors: PM
authors: Siba
authors: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea.
authors: Paul F
authors: PF
authors: Horwood
authors: Department of Human Ecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Umezaki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012329:RNA, Bacterial