First published by BGI in 2012, Metagenome-wide association studies (MWAS) have received even more controversy than Genome-wide association studies (GWAS), as the gut microbiome is believed to be highly dynamic. Here through a 'M-GWAS' of whole metagenome and whole genome, we identify SNPs, genes and CNVs in the human genome that together explain a considerable fraction of the variances in gut microbial composition and functional potential. Some of the gut microbial markers for diseases such as colorectal cancer and metabolic diseases showed associations with the human genome. Less heavily studied than the fecal microbiome, the vagino-cervical microbiome is shown here to relate to both historical and recent events. The vagino-cervical microbiome is also reflected in plasma metabolites, self-reported mental status and facial skin measurements, while its association with the fecal microbiome is generally weak.

Dr. Huijue Jia graduated with a B. S. in Biological Sciences from Fudan University in 2005, and then a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University in 2011. Following a brief postdoctoral training from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (HHMI), Dr. Jia became an editor for the then new journal of Nature Communications, responsible for manuscripts in DNA or RNA-related fields. Dr. Jia joined BGI-Shenzhen in 2013 and has since been working to establish high-quality reference datasets for the healthy human microbiome, as well as investigating microbial derangements in complex diseases and developing new probiotics.