Pathology

Microbiome

Firmicutes

Disease

Human disease

16S ribosomal RNA

Obesity

Bacteria

Gut flora

Biology

Zoology

Gene

Host (biology)

Endocrinology

Heritability

Ecology

Immunology

Human health

Genetics

Medicine

Human microbiome

Environmental health

BMC Biology

The Christensenellaceae , a recently described family in the phylum Firmicutes , is emerging as an important player in human health. The relative abundance of Christensenellaceae in the human gut is inversely related to host body mass index (BMI) in different populations and multiple studies, making its relationship with BMI the most robust and reproducible link between the microbial ecology of the human gut and metabolic disease reported to date. The family is also related to a healthy status in a number of other different disease contexts, including obesity and inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, Christensenellaceae is highly heritable across multiple populations, although specific human genes underlying its heritability have so far been elusive. Further research into the microbial ecology and metabolism of these bacteria should reveal mechanistic underpinnings of their host-health associations and enable their development as therapeutics.

The human gut bacteria Christensenellaceae are widespread, heritable, and associated with health