RESEARCH ARTICLE Characterization of the Gut Microbiota of Papua New Guineans Using Reverse Transcription Quantitative PCR

There has been considerable interest in composition of gut microbiota in recent years, lead-ing to a better understanding of the role the gut microbiota plays in health and disease. Most studies have been limited in their geographical and socioeconomic diversity to high-income settings, and have been conducted using small sample sizes. To date, few analyses have been conducted in low-income settings, where a better understanding of the gut microbiome could lead to the greatest return in terms of health benefits. Here, we have used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting dominant and sub-dominant groups of micro-organisms associated with human gut microbiome in 115 people living a subsistence life-style in rural areas of Papua New Guinea. Quantification of Clostridium coccoides group, C. leptum subgroup, C. perfringens, Bacteroides fragilis group, Bifidobacterium, Atopo-bium cluster, Prevotella, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Lacto-bacillus spp. was conducted. Principle coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed two dimensions with Prevotella, clostridia, Atopobium, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus and Staphylococcus grouping in one dimension, while B. fragilis, Bifidobacterium and Lactoba