The influence of host traits on the gut microbiome

Project description

Growing evidence has implicated the gut microbiome in the development of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. Examining how host traits and exposures influence the composition of the gut microbiome can elucidate the mechanism connecting the gut microbiome to health and help us identify the characteristics of a healthy or a dysbiotic gut microbiome. In this project, we use refined exposure measurements, such as sensor-derived measurements or national register data, combined with data from deep shotgun metagenomics of fecal samples in large population-based studies to investigate the associations with gut microbiome composition. We are also applying Mendelian randomization analysis to complement our observational associations with evidence of a causal effect.

To examine the association of sleep apnea and physical activity with the gut microbiome, we used respiratory polygraph-measured obstructive sleep apnea parameters and accelerometer-measured physical activity in SCAPIS participants. The next step for our study on physical activity is to perform a Mendelian randomization analysis, which was made possible due to the ongoing genome-wide association studies of the gut microbiome conducted in our group.

A well-known factor influencing the microbiome is antibiotic use. However, the duration of the effect of antibiotics on the gut microbiome is unclear. We aim to provide important insights into this matter by using data from the Swedish Prescribed Data Register, which captures all dispensed antibiotics in Sweden since July 2005. We will use the register data together with gut microbiome data from participants from SCAPIS, SIMPLER, and MOS to investigate the association between past antibiotic use and gut microbiome.