Epigenomics. 2016 Sep;8(9):1259-73. doi: 10.2217/epi-2016-0057. Epub 2016 Sep 02.

Epigenetic mechanisms in microbial members of the human microbiota: current knowledge and perspectives.

Epigenomics

Natacha Cureau, Nesreen AlJahdali, Nguyen Vo, Franck Carbonero

PMID: 27587189 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2016-0057

Abstract

The human microbiota and epigenetic processes have both been shown to play a crucial role in health and disease. However, there is extremely scarce information on epigenetic modulation of microbiota members except for a few pathogens. Mainly DNA adenine methylation has been described extensively in modulating the virulence of pathogenic bacteria in particular. It would thus appear likely that such mechanisms are widespread for most bacterial members of the microbiota. This review will present briefly the current knowledge on epigenetic processes in bacteria, give examples of known methylation processes in microbial members of the human microbiota and summarize the knowledge on regulation of host epigenetic processes by the human microbiota.

Keywords: DNA methylation; epigenetics; human microbiota

Substances

• DNA, Bacterial

MeSH terms

• DNA Methylation
• DNA, Bacterial / genetics
• Epigenesis, Genetic*
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome / genetics*
• Humans

Publication Types

• Journal Article
• Review