title: Comparative Analysis of Gut Microbiota of Native Tibetan and Han Populations Living at Different Altitudes.
abstract: The factors driving the composition of gut microbiota are still only partly understood but appear to include environmental, cultural, and genetic factors. In order to obtain more insight into the relative importance of these factors, we analyzed the microbiome composition in subjects of Tibetan or Han descent living at different altitudes. DNA was isolated from stool samples. Using polymerase chain reaction methodology, the 16S rRNA V1-V3 regions were amplified and the sequence information was analyzed by principal coordinates analysis and Lefse analyses. Contrasting the Tibetan and Han populations both living at the 3600 m altitude, we found that the Tibetan microbiome is characterized by a relative abundance of Prevotella whereas the Han stool was enriched in Bacteroides. Comparing the microbiome of Han stool obtained from populations living at different altitudes revealed a more energy efficient flora in samples from those living at higher altitude relative to their lower-altitude counterparts. Comparison of the stool microbiome of Tibetan herders living at 4800 m to rural Tibetans living at 3600 m altitude shows that the former have a flora enriched in butyrate-producing bacteria, possibly in response to the harsher environment that these herders face. Thus, the study shows that both altitude and genetic/cultural background have a significant influence on microbiome composition, and it represents the first attempt to compare stool microbiota of Tibetan and Han populations in relation to altitude.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong Province, China.|High Altitude Medical Research Institute, People's Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, 850000, China.
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: High Altitude Medical Research Institute, People's Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, 850000, China.
authors.forename: Zeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.affiliation: High Altitude Medical Research Institute, People's Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, 850000, China.
authors.forename: Luobu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gesang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Yongjian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Yanlei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Major Bio-pharm Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 201203, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Major Bio-pharm Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 201203, China.
authors.forename: Yixiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Yuqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D044822:Biodiversity; D004032:Diet; D005006:Ethnicity; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018609:Tibet