Gut methanogens across aging and centenarians in Austria
Cross-sectional study of 185 stool metagenome samples from Austria, comparing young adults, older adults, and centenarians to examine age-related shifts in gut methanogen (archaeal) composition and their relationship with bacterial communities. machine-written summary
185 samples · 185 runs · AT · Mixed ages · 2025 · 4.16 Gbp / sample
Checked this project's papers and archive records yourself? Mark it human-verified.
what each source gave
| ✓ Sequence archive | 925 sample values (collection date, country, latitude, location region, longitude) |
| ○ Abstract / description | read; no usable statement |
| ✓ Full text | 185 sample values (subject id) · PMC11969853, PMC13021664 |
| ○ Supplementary tables | files read; no table could be matched to the samples |
| – External resources | not covered by the external resources we ingest |
| – User contribution | nothing uploaded yet · share metadata |
| – Human verified | not yet checked by a person · I checked this project — verify it |
Genera, mean relative abundance over 185 profiled gut samples of this project (Sandpiper SingleM profiles, GTDB R232; low-depth and non-metagenome profiles left out).
| field | samples | coverage | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| age_category | 0 | 0% | ||||
| country | 185 | 100% | 185 | |||
| health_condition | 0 | 0% | ||||
| subject_id | 185 | 100% | 185 | |||
| collection_date | 185 | 100% | 185 | |||
| detailed_location | 185 | 100% | ||||
| latitude | 185 | 100% | 185 | |||
| location_region | 185 | 100% | 185 | |||
| longitude | 185 | 100% | 185 |
- Age-related dynamics of predominant methanogenic archaea in the human gut microbiome. 2025 PMID 40181255 PMC11969853 unsure
- Examination of shared gut microbiome signatures in aging and Parkinson's disease. 2026 PMID 41907847 PMC13021664 unsure
- Age-Related Dynamics of Methanogenic Archaea in the Human Gut Microbiome: Implications for Longevity and Health 2024 unsure
Archive description
The reciprocal relationship between aging and alterations in the gut microbiota is a subject of ongoing research. While the role of bacteria in the gut microbiome is well-documented, specific changes in the composition of methanogens during extreme aging and the impact of having high methanogen phenotype on health remain unclear. We analyzed metagenomic data from the stool samples of young adults, older adults and centenarians. Our findings reveal that the prevalence of high methanogen phenotype increases with age, while overall archaeal diversity diminishes. Surprisingly, the archaeal composition of methanogens in centenarians’ microbiome appears more akin to that of younger adults, showing an increase in M.smithii, rather than Ca. M.intestini. Remarkably, Ca. M.intestini emerged as a central player in the network stability of adults, paving the way for M.smithii in older adults and centenarians. Notably, centenarians exhibit highly complex and stable network of these two methanogens with other bacteria. Furthermore, the mutual exclusion of Lachnospiraceae and these methanogens throughout all age groups suggests that these archaeal communities may compensate for the age-related drop in Lachnospiraceae, potentially with involved in butyrate production pathway with high methanogen phenotype in all three age groups and the positive correlation of these genes with Oscillospiraceae. In conclusion, isturbances in the formation of high methanogen phenotype during aging are critical for maintaining butyrate levels in the gut. This study highlights the dynamic nature of high methanogen phenotype and their impact on gut health throughout aging.
How this project entered the registry
Classified as human gut / stool shotgun DNA metagenome of adult and elderly by sonnet_x2 with confidence 0.68. Assay shotgun_dna.
- host run.scientific_name · “human metagenome”
- body site study.description · “stool samples of young adults, older adults and centenarians”
- life stage study.description · “young adults, older adults and centenarians”
Evidence examples (one per field × route)
| sample | field | value | route | conf. | source | quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAMEA115170422 | collection_date | 2018 | R1 | 0.90 | biosample.attribute:collection_date | 2018 |
| SAMEA115170422 | country | AT | R1 | 0.90 | sample.attr.geographic_location_country_and_or_sea | Austria |
| SAMEA115170422 | latitude | 47.0667 | R1 | 0.90 | biosample.attribute:geographic_location_latitude+geographic_location_longitude | 47.06667 15.45 |
| SAMEA115170422 | location_region | Styria | R1 | 0.60 | biosample.attribute:geographic_location_latitude+geographic_location_longitude | 47.06667 15.45 |
| SAMEA115170422 | longitude | 15.4500 | R1 | 0.90 | biosample.attribute:geographic_location_latitude+geographic_location_longitude | 47.06667 15.45 |
| SAMEA115170422 | subject_id | SAMEA115170422 | R3 | 0.70 | design.one_sample_per_subject:fulltext | we used fecal samples from 91 subjects enrolled in Graz, Austria ... a total of 94 participants aged 46–86 |
Sequencing
185 runs over 185 samples · mean 4.17 Gbp per run (median 4.16 Gbp, total 771.38 Gbp; 185 runs with a base count) · layout PAIRED 185 · platform ILLUMINA 185 · models Illumina NovaSeq 6000 (185) · 100% of runs with a Sandpiper profile · first public 2025-03-13
Authors (14)
Mohammadzadeh R first · Mahnert A · Shinde T · Kumpitsch C · Weinberger V · Schmidt H · Moissl-Eichinger C last · Tng TJW first · Vanan S · Tan EK · Zeng L · Goh WWB · Wong SH · Lim KL last
Help complete this project
2 of the 4 core fields are below 50% coverage: age_category, health_condition. Share metadata
Downloads
PRJEB72212.csv.gz (5.4 KB) · parquet (77.5 KB) — all 185 samples, every field with route and confidence · PRJEB72212_determinations.csv.gz (7.3 KB) — 1,110 evidence rows