GI highlights from the literature

ABSTRACT

Kurilshikov et al report the largest genome-wide meta-analysis of associations between host genetic variants and gut microbiota. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequence data from 18 340 participants within 24 cohorts were analysed. Variation in microbiome richness, diversity and composition was influenced by multiple factors including DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene profiling methodology, ancestry, age and body mass index. The authors recorded similar findings in colon cancer-injected mice when administered antibody therapy against CD4+ and CD8+ tumour T cells (known to control colon cancer growth). The authors used flow cytometry to analyse the hepatic immune cells of RNA vaccine-injected mice liver and tumour CD4+ T cell frequency increased in chow-fed but was reduced in MCD-fed steatohepatitis mice.