Global genetic diversity of human gut microbiome species is related to geographic location and host health

Abstract

The human gut harbors thousands of microbial species, each exhibiting significant inter-individual genetic variability. Although many studies have associated microbial relative abundances with human-health-related phenotypes, the substantial intraspecies genetic variability of gut microbes has not yet been comprehensively considered, limiting the potential of linking such genetic traits with host conditions. Here, we analyzed 32,152 metagenomes from 94 microbiome studies across the globe to investigate the human microbiome intraspecies genetic diversity. We reconstructed 583 species-specific phylogenies and linked them to geographic information and species' horizontal transmissibility. We identified 484 microbial-strain-level associations with 241 host phenotypes, encompassing human anthropometric factors, biochemical measurements, diseases, and lifestyle. We observed a higher prevalence of a Ruminococcus gnavus clade in nonagenarians correlated with distinct plasma bile acid profiles and a melanoma and prostate-cancer-associated Collinsella clade. Our large-scale intraspecies genetic analysis highlights the relevance of strain diversity as it relates to human health.