| Scientist - News - 20-04-2008: MetaHIT project launched: studying the genes inside our gut Beintema, Nienke A new European project aims to study the vast genetic diversity of our gut microbiota. By identifying the function of microbial genes, scientists hope to pave the way for new functional foods and therapeutic approaches that target the composition and function of our gut microbiota. Humans live in close association with trillions of bacteria, particularly those that live inside our intestine. It is estimated that these bacteria outnumber our human body cells by a factor of ten. The number of different genes that they collectively possess – the so-called microbial metagenome – is at least one hundred times larger than our own genome. However, little is known about this vast genetic diversity and its role in our health and well-being. Thirteen partners from seven EU countries recently joined forces to increase this knowledge. They initiated a collaborative project called MetaHIT (Metagenome of the Human Intestinal Tract), which was officially launched on April 11th in Paris, France. The function of genes "The primary target of the project is to dramatically increase the number of known DNA sequences present in our gut microbiota," says prof. Michiel Kleerebezem at Wageningen University, which is one of the MetaHIT partners. "Eventually this will help to establish correlations between people’s health and the genetic composition and activity of their gut microbiota." MetaHIT scientists will examine the microbial metagenomics of healthy people versus obese people and patients with inflammable bowel disease (IBD). There is scientific evidence that the microbiota of these groups differ in composition. MetaHIT aims to extend this knowledge to the level of genes and the corresponding proteins and functions, with the ambition to use this knowledge to our advantage. The Wageningen research will initially focus on analysing the function of metagenomic sequences that encode proteins exposed on the outside of bacterial cells. These proteins play an important role in shaping the molecular interaction between the bacteria and the human system. "At a later stage, when metagenomic data of the different human target populations is accumulating," says Kleerebezem, "our focus will shift to genes and functions that are different in people with IBD or obesitas versus healthy people." To determine the function of particular genes, the scientists introduce them into the DNA of so-called model organisms: bacteria that are genetically accessible and can easily be grown in a lab. Changes in their metabolism, or in the way they react to certain stimuli, will be a clue to the function of the introduced gene. "We can do this for individual genes as well as for larger DNA-fragments," explains Kleerebezem, "to learn about the functional properties of genes and gene combinations." The kick-off meeting in Paris brought together scientists from the participating institutions to discuss the latest developments and opportunities. The meeting, as Kleerebezem remarks, was characterised by optimism. "If we know which functions are under- or perhaps overrepresented in people with certain conditions," he says, "we might be able to design functional foods or therapeutic treatments that target specific groups of the gut microbiota. This seems more promising than the current approaches employing pre- and probiotics." www.metahit.eu «Back |