新西兰研究机构近日发表研究成果，证明粪便和指纹一样特别，能为个性化医疗和定制治疗方案提供信息。奥克兰大学研究者和创作“便便卫生纸”的新西兰艺术家比利·艾普尔合作，艾普尔提供的1970年代作品“便便卫生纸”中，有近半菌种在46年之后依然留在他的体内。研究人员表示，这项研究结果意味着，科学家若要在个性化医疗方面取得进展，不仅要考量个人基因，还得将独特的微生物群系纳入研究。这份新报告发表于《人体微生物学报》。

分子生物学家欧苏利文说，这些通过显微镜才能看到的生物和人们的身体系统，以许多复杂神秘的方式互动，在人们的健康、幸福与发展中扮演重要角色。微生物的组成和基因与环境的互动有关。

这项研究相当特别，因为人们通常不会留下这项研究所需的样本。上世纪60年代，艾普尔和其他波普艺术家合作创造了“便便卫生纸”，就是擦拭过粪便的卫生纸，展览结束后将卫生纸收起来。2016年他又创造出一批同类作品，两次“成果”为这项研究立下基础。与35岁时相比，比利·艾普尔85岁的肠道微生物群种类变少了，但仍有45%菌种留了下来。年龄变了、纽约与奥克兰生活环境、饮食也和46年前大不一样。研究发现，一个人的核心菌群不会因岁月流逝而改变，部分细菌是由基因选择决定的。

Research |  A Retrospective Study of the Faeces Unveils the Genes and Bacteria  

Faeces appear to be as unique as fingerprints, according to New Zealand research released Sunday which could impact on the growing push towards personalised medicine and tailored treatments. In the collaboration, scientists at Auckland University studied excrement from acclaimed artist Billy Apple. They found that nearly half of the bacteria species present in his 1970 artwork Excretory Wipings were still present in his body 46 years later.The researchers said this meant their study -- newly published in the Human Microbiome Journal -- meant advances in personalised medicine may have to consider not only a person's individual genes but also their unique microbiome -– the population of microbes that live in and on them.

Molecular biologist Justin O'Sullivan said scientists now realise "these microscopic creatures interact in many intricate, mysterious ways with our body systems, and play a crucial role in our health, well-being and development"."The structure of the microbiome is affected by the interaction between your genes and your environment, which includes what you eat."

The study was unique because people "don't tend to keep the samples that are necessary to perform it". Apple, collaborated with Andy Warhol and other pop artists in the 1960s, collected his excrement-soiled toilet tissues for Excretory Wipings.These were later stored and in 2016 he produced a new set with the combined collection forming the basis of the study.Billy Apple's gut microbiome was less diverse at age 80 compared to 35, but 45 percent of the bacteria species were retained over the 46 years, despite significant differences in his age and environment –- New York and Auckland -- and in his diet, from what he recalls.The study found that a "core" part of a person's bacteria population remains stable as they age, and at least some of the bacteria are actively selected by their genes.