Education and Experience

2011 – 2014 Ph.D. in Biology

EMBL Heidelberg and University of Heidelberg, Germany

2008 – 2010 M.Sc. in Molecular Biotechnology

University of Heidelberg, Germany

2005 – 2008 B.Sc. in Molecular Biotechnology

University of Heidelberg, Germany

Selected Publications

Highlighted Abstract

In recent years, several associations between common chronic human disorders and altered gut microbiome composition and function have been reported. In most of these reports, treatment regimens were not controlled for and conclusions could thus be confounded by the effects of various drugs on the microbiota, which may obscure microbial causes, protective factors or diagnostically relevant signals. Our study addresses disease and drug signatures in the human gut microbiome of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Two previous quantitative gut metagenomics studies of T2D patients that were unstratified for treatment yielded divergent conclusions regarding its associated gut microbial dysbiosis. Here we show, using 784 available human gut metagenomes, how antidiabetic medication confounds these results, and analyse in detail the effects of the most widely used antidiabetic drug metformin. We provide support for microbial mediation of the therapeutic effects of metformin through short-chain fatty acid production, as well as for potential microbiota-mediated mechanisms behind known intestinal adverse effects in the form of a relative increase in abundance of Escherichia species. Controlling for metformin treatment, we report a unified signature of gut microbiome shifts in T2D with a depletion of butyrate-producing taxa. These in turn cause functional microbiome shifts, in part alleviated by metformin-induced changes. Overall, the present study emphasizes the need to disentangle gut microbiota signatures of specific human diseases from those of medication.

View full list of publications

Search MagazineJune 19, 2019
The Microbiome Revolution
Miguel Ilzarbe, Director of Operations and Administration, and Professor George Weinstock, Ph.D., discuss how to harness the health benefits of the microbiome. Photo by Charles Camarda.
Tech CornerJune 17, 2019
The genome of Eve (the mouse)
C57BL/6—aka Black 6—is the most widely used mouse strain in research. Its reference genome was published in 2003 and has been carefully curated over the years since.
Featured ArticleJune 04, 2019
MCGI Advances clinical genomics education in Maine
Oncology practices in Maine will continue to have access to advanced educational curricula on genomic tumor testing in patient care through the Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative (MCGI), thanks to a gift from the Maine Cancer Foundation.
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Featured ArticleMay 29, 2019
Making a community impact beyond the bench
A JAX postdoctoral associate was recently awarded a fellowship in Science Policy from the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics that will allow him to advocate for support of science research with federal officials and congressional staff.

Search MagazineJune 18, 2019
Connected through Science
When Isabelle Chen, a senior at The Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, Conn., met Ann Bresnahan ‘69 during a science alumnae panel discussion at Bresnahan’s 50-year high school reunion, the two knew that they shared a passion for science.
Blog PostJune 05, 2019
Multigene panels for hereditary breast cancer risk
Genetic testing is becoming increasingly accessible for patients as the list of clinical indications and number of genes are growing, and the cost of testing is decreasing.
Press ReleaseMay 30, 2019
Investigating the details of type 2 diabetes onset
A new study published in Nature sets a new precedent for understanding the development of type 2 diabetes, and it provides a trove of data for ongoing research.
Search MagazineMay 22, 2019
JAX scientists speak out on the crisis of opioid addiction
JAX scientists are intensifying their efforts to shed light on the genetic and neurobiological causes of addiction, along with the impact of environmental influences.

Anita Voigt, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Associate

About Anita Voigt, Ph.D.

Education and Experience

Selected Publications

Highlighted Abstract

The Microbiome Revolution

The genome of Eve (the mouse)

MCGI Advances clinical genomics education in Maine

Making a community impact beyond the bench

Connected through Science

Multigene panels for hereditary breast cancer risk

Investigating the details of type 2 diabetes onset

JAX scientists speak out on the crisis of opioid addiction