Murine Genetic Background Has a Stronger Impact on the Composition of the Gut Microbiota than Maternal Inoculation or Exposure to Unlike Exogenous Microbiota

Abstract

The gut microbiota play important roles for their host. The link between host genetics and their microbial composition has received increasing interest. Using a unique reciprocal cross model, generating genetically similar F 1 hybrids with different maternal inoculation, we demonstrate the inheritance of gut persistence of 12 bacterial taxa. No taxa identified as maternally transmitted. Moreover, cohabitation of two genetically different inbred lines did not dramatically affect the microbiota composition. Taken together, our results demonstrate the importance of the genetic effect over maternal inoculation or effect of exposure to unlike exogenous microbiota. These findings may lead to the development of personalized probiotic products, specifically designed according to the genetic makeup.