Metanacentome: A genomic methodology for the study of nascent metatranscription of the microbiome

The gut microbiota has been shown to have an important influence on host health. Microbial composition of the gut microbiota is modulated by diet and human habits. The composition of human gut microbiota changes with age; and alterations in this composition may influence human health. It has been reported that microbiota composition of each individual is stable across the adult life, but it may varies between individuals. Moreover, human gut microbiota composition differs across geography, according to host genetics, dietary habits, age, ethnic origin, geographic location and lifestyle. Nevertheless, gene composition or functional capacity is highly conserved across individuals, phenomenon known as functional redundancy. Although metatranscriptomics can study the mature mRNA from a microbiome sample, it is impossible identify who bacteria is actively transcribing the genes who drives the molecular expression. The use of genome-wide methodologies to study the active mRNA synthesis could be useful to identify the bacterial population who drives gene expression in microbiome environment.