Genome-Wide Sweeps Create Ecological Units in Human Gut Microbiome
A new study published in Nature reveals that genome-wide selective sweeps are a pervasive evolutionary mechanism shaping the human gut microbiome. Researchers found that these sweeps allow specific bacterial clones to outcompete others within their niche, leading to global, epidemic-like population structures across diverse human populations. By analyzing phylogenetic trees and excluding recombination events, the team identified this pattern in at least 66 taxa from 25 bacterial families. The study indicates that these sweep clusters can spread globally within decades and have occurred throughout human history. Crucially, these genetically differentiated populations are associated with various host conditions, including age, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, and type 2 diabetes. This research provides a theoretical foundation for understanding microbial adaptation and offers a more precise method for linking specific genetic units to health outcomes, moving beyond broad taxonomic correlations. The findings highlight the dynamic nature of the microbiome and its significant influence on human health and disease through rapid evolutionary processes.
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Genome-Wide Sweeps Create Ecological Units in Human Gut Microbiome
A new study published in Nature reveals that genome-wide selective sweeps are a pervasive evolutionary mechanism shaping the human gut microbiome. Researchers found that these sweeps allow specific bacterial clones to outcompete others within their niche, leading to global, epidemic-like population structures across diverse human populations. By analyzing phylogenetic trees and excluding recombination events, the team identified this pattern in at least 66 taxa from 25 bacterial families. The study indicates that these sweep clusters can spread globally within decades and have occurred throughout human history. Crucially, these genetically differentiated populations are associated with various host conditions, including age, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, and type 2 diabetes. This research provides a theoretical foundation for understanding microbial adaptation and offers a more precise method for linking specific genetic units to health outcomes, moving beyond broad taxonomic correlations. The findings highlight the dynamic nature of the microbiome and its significant influence on human health and disease through rapid evolutionary processes.
Nature