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In the largest gut metagenome study from India, the research team studied the bacterial profile of 200 gut samples taken from people from several Indian locations
The researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal have shown the differences in the type of gut bacteria between Indian and Western populations.
These variations arise from the differences in the diet patterns in these two regions – the Indian diet being richer in carbohydrates and fibre than the Western.
Dr Vineet K. Sharma, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, IISER Bhopal, along with his collaborators from the South Dakota State University, US has also elucidated the relationship between gut bacteria and inflammatory diseases such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
The researchers found that the Indian gut microbiome has the highest abundance of the Prevotella genus of bacteria, in particular, a species called Prevotella copri. This bacterium also dominates the guts of other populations that consume a carbohydrate- and fibre-rich diet, such as the Italian, Madagascarian, Peruvian, and Tanzanian. The gut microbiomes of people from Western countries like the US are dominated by Bacteroides.
“Our insights would help in the development of new probiotics and prebiotics for different health-related conditions associated with the gut which is much needed for non-western populations”, said Dr Sharma.