In this episode, we speak with Dr. Vales-Colomer, a leading researcher in the field of microbiome science. Our conversation revolves around the human microbiome, its integral role in health, and the profound influence of interpersonal relationships on its genetic makeup.

Dr. Vales-Colomer delves into his latest research, based on an analysis of over 9,700 human metagenomes. This study reveals the intricate patterns of bacterial strain transmission between individuals, demonstrating the significant role of mother-to-infant transmission, intra-household sharing, and intra-population patterns. His findings suggest that approximately half of the bacterial strains in an infant's gut microbiome are transmitted from their mother, and this transmission remains detectable even in later life stages.

The conversation also touches upon the oral microbiome and the horizontal transmission that largely defines its makeup. Dr. Vales-Colomer highlights how cohabitation length influences strain sharing more significantly than age or genetics. Fascinatingly, his research also shows that bacterial strain-sharing patterns can better illustrate host population structures than species-level profiles.

Finally, Dr. Vales-Colomer discusses the identification of specific taxa that appear efficient in spreading across different transmission modes and their associated bacterial phenotypes linked to out-of-host survival capabilities.

Tune in to this episode for a fascinating journey into the world of the human microbiome and learn about the deep interplay between our microbes and social dynamics.

Key Words: Human Microbiome, Health, Interpersonal Relationships, Bacterial Strain Transmission, Mother-to-Infant Transmission, Intra-Household Sharing, Intra-Population Patterns, Cohabitation, Host Population Structures.

Valles-Colomer, M., Blanco-Míguez, A., Manghi, P. et al. The person-to-person transmission landscape of the gut and oral microbiomes. Nature (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05620-1