Table_1_Temporal dynamics and species-level complexity of Prevotella spp. in the human gut microbiota: implications for enterotypes and health.xlsx

The concept of “enterotypes” in microbiome research has attracted substantial interest, particularly focusing on the abundance of Prevotella spp. in the human gut. In this study, the intricate dynamics of Prevotella spp. in the human gut microbiota was investigated, based on the metagenomic method. First, 239 fecal samples from individuals across four regions of China revealed a bimodal distribution, highlighting the abundance and variability in Prevotella spp. within the Chinese population. Second, the longitudinal cohort study included 184 fecal samples from 52 time points collected from seven individuals who demonstrated either the outbreaks or disappearances of Prevotella spp., emphasizing the transient nature of Prevotella abundance levels and suggesting shifts in Prevotella “enterotypes.” Furthermore, a turnover of the dominant Prevotella spp. was observed, indicating the potential presence of diverse subtypes of Prevotella enterotype. Notably, the genomic analysis demonstrated the persistence of specific Prevotella strains within individuals over extended periods, highlighting the enduring presence of Prevotella in the human gut. In conclusion, by integrating the temporal and geographical scales in our research, we gained deeper insights into the dynamics of Prevotella, emphasizing the importance of considering the dynamics at the time and species level in gut microbiota studies and their implications on human health.

在微生物组研究领域，“肠型”这一概念引起了广泛关注，尤其是针对人类肠道中普雷沃菌属丰度的研究。本研究基于宏基因组方法，深入探讨了人类肠道微生物群中普雷沃菌属的复杂动态。首先，来自中国四个地区的239份粪便样本揭示了双峰分布，突显了普雷沃菌属在中国人群中的丰度和变异性。其次，纵向队列研究纳入了52个时间点收集的52份粪便样本，来自7名个体，其中部分个体表现出普雷沃菌属的爆发或消失，强调了普雷沃菌属丰度水平的暂时性，并暗示了普雷沃菌“肠型”的转变。此外，观察到优势普雷沃菌属的更替，表明普雷沃菌肠型可能存在多种亚型。值得注意的是，基因组分析揭示了特定普雷沃菌菌株在个体体内长期存在，凸显了普雷沃菌在人类肠道中的持久性。总之，通过整合时间和地理尺度，本研究对普雷沃菌的动态有了更深入的洞察，强调了在肠道微生物群研究中考虑时间尺度和物种层次动态的重要性及其对人类健康的潜在影响。