The genome sequence of Christensenella minuta: a bacterium which is the most heritable member of the gut microbiota and which also influences host weight.
There has been considerable interest in a particular member of the gut microbiota, a bacterial species named Christensenella minuta, which is a member of the Firmicutes phylum. Three recent findings have generated this interest. First, the Christensenella genus appears to be found so far only in human hosts (link is external). Second, C. minuta was found to be the most heritable species in the human gut microbiome, meaning that it is the species whose presence or absence in our gut is mostly determined by the genes of its human host. Third, evidence suggests that the presence of C. minuta can directly affect the weight of its host by as yet unknown mechanisms. C. minuta is more likely to be present in leaner people, and adding C. minuta to the gut tracts of mice resulted in leaner mice. These findings suggest a potential use of C. minuta as a probiotic for weight control.
HMP researchers at WashU have now published the complete genome sequence of C. minuta. The availability of this genome sequence will allow future researchers to gain in depth insights into its life cycle, its metabolism and the mechanisms by which it can affect the human host in which it lives. This research highlights another way in which the HMP is supporting the larger microbiome research community.
Reference:
Genome Sequence of Christensenella minuta DSM 22607T. Rosa BA, Hallsworth-Pepin K, Martin J, Wollam A, Mitreva M. Genome Announc. 2017 Jan 12; 5(2).
