Characterising the gut microbiome of stranded harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in rehabilitation.
Animal rehabilitation centres provide a unique opportunity to study the microbiome of wild animals because subjects will be handled for their treatment and can therefore be sampled longitudinally. However, rehabilitation may have unintended consequences on the animals' microbiome because of a less varied and suboptimal diet, possible medical treatment and exposure to a different environment and human handlers. Our study describes the gut microbiome of two large seal cohorts, 50 pups (0-30 days old at arrival) and 23 weaners (more than 60 days old at arrival) of stranded harbour seals admitted for rehabilitation at the Sealcentre Pieterburen in the Netherlands, and the effect of rehabilitation on it. Faecal samples were collected from all seals at arrival, two times during rehabilitation and before release. Only seals that did not receive antimicrobial treatment were included in the study. The average time in rehabilitation was 95 days for the pups and 63 days for the weaners. We observed that during rehabilitation, there was an increase in the relative abundance of some of the Campylobacterota spp and Actinobacteriota spp. The alpha diversity of the pups' microbiome increased significantly during their rehabilitation (p-value <0.05), while there were no significant changes in alpha diversity over time for weaners. We hypothesize that aging is the main reason for the observed changes in the pups' microbiome. At release, the sex of a seal pup was significantly associated with the microbiome's alpha (i.e., Shannon diversity was higher for male pups, p-value <0.001) and beta diversity (p-value 0.001). For weaners, variation in the microbiome composition (beta diversity) at release was partly explained by sex and age of the seal (p-values 0.002 and 0.003 respectively). We mainly observed variables known to change the gut microbiome composition (e.g., age and sex) and conclude that rehabilitation in itself had only minor effects on the gut microbiome of seal pups and seal weaners.
Highlights
The mammalian gut microbiome plays a major role in a range of essential functions for the host [1, 2]
One of the seal weaners died during rehabilitation (Table 1)
In the study on determinants across time using univariable linear mixed effect models, we found that feed and length of stay were significantly associated with the pups’ microbiome richness and Shannon diversity, while there were no significant determinants for weaners (S2A–S2D Tables)
Summary
The mammalian gut microbiome plays a major role in a range of essential functions for the host [1, 2]. The gut microbiome has been studied extensively in humans, and it is known to be influenced, among others, by genetics, diet, and environment. It affects and is affected by the host’s health status [5–8]. Animal microbiomes have been studied, and there is vast knowledge about the gut microbiome of livestock [9]; wild animals are still relatively understudied because of the difficulties in obtaining samples [10]. Studying the microbiome of wild animals in rehabilitation may be an alternative to sampling free-ranging animals
41
- 10.1186/s42523-020-00035-7
- May 6, 2020
- Animal Microbiome
64
- 10.1111/mec.15087
- May 1, 2019
- Molecular Ecology
14652
- 10.21105/joss.01686
- Nov 21, 2019
- Journal of Open Source Software
11
- 10.1002/jsfa.2740110703
- Jul 1, 1960
- Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
24
- 10.1099/ijsem.0.002742
- Apr 6, 2018
- International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
75050
- 10.1186/s13059-014-0550-8
- Jan 1, 2014
- Genome Biology
1117
- 10.1097/mog.0000000000000057
- May 1, 2014
- Current Opinion in Gastroenterology
207
- 10.1111/1462-2920.12022
- Nov 12, 2012
- Environmental Microbiology
518
- 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002808
- Dec 27, 2012
- PLoS Computational Biology
406
- 10.1073/pnas.1521835113
- Aug 29, 2016
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Research Article
- 10.1007/s10126-024-10397-7
- Nov 26, 2024
- Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)
The spotted seal (Phoca largha) is the sole pinniped species that can reproduce in China and has been classified as the First-Grade State Protection animal. The conventional method for the protection and maintenance of the spotted seal population is the captive maintenance of the species in artificially controlled environments. Nevertheless, the efficacy of the captive strategy remains uncertain, with the potential to impact the health of spotted seals through alterations in gut microbiota. In this study, PacBio sequencing based on the full-length of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was applied to faeces from captive and wild spotted seals, thereby providing a first reference for the gut microbiota profile of spotted seals at the species scale. The gut microbiota of captive spotted seals was found to be more diverse than that of the wild population. The gut microbiota of spotted seals exhibited notable variation due to captive breeding, with an enrichment of Firmicutes and a reduction in Proteobacteria. The results of the co-occurrence network analysis indicated that the gut microbiota of captive spotted seals exhibited a greater degree of complexity and stability in comparison to that observed in their wild counterparts. The analysis of community assembly mechanisms revealed an increased determinism for the gut microbiota of captive individuals, with a concomitant decrease in the contribution of drift. Furthermore, the results of the predicted functions indicated a reduction in stress responses and an enhanced ability to metabolise sugars in the gut microbiota of captive spotted seals. In conclusion, the results of this study provide evidence that the current captive breeding strategy is an effective approach for improving the gut microbiota of spotted seals. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the potential of monitoring the gut microbiota to assess the health of marine mammals and inform conservation strategies for endangered species.
- Research Article
- 10.1186/s42523-025-00449-1
- Jul 23, 2025
- Animal Microbiome
Antimicrobial treatment affects the microbiome and resistome of both treated and untreated rehabilitating harbour seals (Phoca vitulina)
- Research Article
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0295072.r006
- Dec 5, 2023
- PLOS ONE
Animal rehabilitation centres provide a unique opportunity to study the microbiome of wild animals because subjects will be handled for their treatment and can therefore be sampled longitudinally. However, rehabilitation may have unintended consequences on the animals’ microbiome because of a less varied and suboptimal diet, possible medical treatment and exposure to a different environment and human handlers. Our study describes the gut microbiome of two large seal cohorts, 50 pups (0–30 days old at arrival) and 23 weaners (more than 60 days old at arrival) of stranded harbour seals admitted for rehabilitation at the Sealcentre Pieterburen in the Netherlands, and the effect of rehabilitation on it. Faecal samples were collected from all seals at arrival, two times during rehabilitation and before release. Only seals that did not receive antimicrobial treatment were included in the study. The average time in rehabilitation was 95 days for the pups and 63 days for the weaners. We observed that during rehabilitation, there was an increase in the relative abundance of some of the Campylobacterota spp and Actinobacteriota spp. The alpha diversity of the pups’ microbiome increased significantly during their rehabilitation (p-value <0.05), while there were no significant changes in alpha diversity over time for weaners. We hypothesize that aging is the main reason for the observed changes in the pups’ microbiome. At release, the sex of a seal pup was significantly associated with the microbiome’s alpha (i.e., Shannon diversity was higher for male pups, p-value <0.001) and beta diversity (p-value 0.001). For weaners, variation in the microbiome composition (beta diversity) at release was partly explained by sex and age of the seal (p-values 0.002 and 0.003 respectively). We mainly observed variables known to change the gut microbiome composition (e.g., age and sex) and conclude that rehabilitation in itself had only minor effects on the gut microbiome of seal pups and seal weaners.
- Research Article
38
- 10.1111/1462-2920.15517
- May 6, 2021
- Environmental Microbiology
Recent human and animal studies have found associations between gut microbiota composition and serum levels of sex hormones, indicating that they could be an important factor in shaping the microbiota. However, little is known about the effect of regular hormonal fluctuations over the menstrual cycle or CHC-related changes of hormone levels on gut microbiota structure, diversity and dynamics. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CHCs on human gut microbiota composition. The effect of CHC pill intake on gut microbiota composition was studied in a group of 7 healthy pre-menopausal women using the CHC pill, compared to the control group of 9 age-matched healthy women that have not used hormonal contraceptives in the six months prior the start of the study. By analyzing the gut microbiota composition in both groups during one menstrual cycle, we found that CHC usage is associated with a minor decrease in gut microbiota diversity and differences in the abundance of several bacterial taxa. These results call for further investigation of the mechanisms underlying hormonal and hormonal contraceptive-related changes of the gut microbiota and the potential implications of these changes for women's health. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
- Research Article
9
- 10.3390/biology10050406
- May 5, 2021
- Biology
Simple SummaryVegetation composition and plant diversity of mixed deciduous forests in Europe is strongly linked with the dynamics of the forest stand and/or the regimes of forest management. In this work, we showed the influence of temporal interactions among the changes in the management system—the dominant development stage—the intensity of forest treatments, and herbaceous plant diversity. We argued that different arrangements of these interactions will result in different patterns of change in herbaceous plant diversity. We emphasized the need for careful interpretation of the levels of diversity (α, β) to evaluate the conservation status of forests.In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the complex dependence of herbaceous plant diversity on forest structure and management. However, among the studies presented so far, those in which the chronosequence (approach based on the assumption of space-for-time substitution) was used, dominate. On the other hand, it is rare to find results based on long-term research on permanent or semi-permanent sampling plots. The aim of this study was to recognize the changes in the vegetation composition and dynamics of various indices of herbaceous plant diversity over 40 years of forest development, and their dependence on forest structure and management. Here we analyzed the temporal dynamics of herbaceous plant diversity in Carpathian fertile beech forests, based on datasets recorded on semi-permanent plots in three censuses (the 1970s, 2000s and 2010s). We checked the temporal changes in alpha, beta, and gamma diversity. Analyses of the plant diversity were performed on the background of changes in forest structure and management systems. We found that the within-plot (alfa diversity) and between-plot (beta diversity) herbaceous plant diversity metrics showed inconsistent patterns along with changes in the forest structure, management systems, and intensity of forest management, during the last 40 years. Temporal changes in the gamma diversity followed the changes in alpha diversity. Although the beta diversity after 40 years is greater than in the past, we argue that the conservation status of habitats typical for well-preserved fertile mountain beech forests has deteriorated due to a decline in the sharing of the diagnostic species of these forests. We showed the importance of the different temporal interactions between the forest structure and management for herbaceous plant diversity. We argue that, in view of the complexity of these processes, it would be a mistake to reject or prioritize alpha or beta diversity measurements to determine the real course of long-term changes in herbaceous plant diversity and to properly assess the state of the forest biodiversity, their conservation status, or conservation action plans. In addition, we need far more data from long-term observations to fully understand the possible relationship patterns between the factors controlling the forest structure and plant diversity.
- Research Article
- 10.1017/s0029665125000473
- Apr 1, 2025
- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
Pregnancy prompts a cascade of anatomical, metabolic, hormonal, and immunological adaptations important for foetal development, labour and birth(1). These multi–system adaptations interact with the maternal gut microbiome and may affect pregnancy and infancy outcomes(2). However, the nature and extent of changes to gut microbiome composition and diversity during pregnancy and the influence of dietary intake remains contentious. The ‘BABY1000’ pilot prospective birth cohort study based in Sydney, Australia(3) sought to explore associations between maternal diet, the maternal gut microbiome before and across pregnancy, and the infant gut microbiome. Primary aims were to (1) explore the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome of women at preconception, at 12-, 28- and 36-weeks’ gestation, and in infants at six weeks of age; and (2) determine how maternal and infant gut microbiomes are influenced by diet quality and fibre intake during pregnancy. Mothers (n = 146) and infants (n = 105), encompassing 86 mother–infant dyads were involved. RStudio (v 4.2.3) was used to perform microbiome composition and diversity analyses using 350 maternal and 102 infant stool samples. Maternal dietary quality was assessed at recruitment (preconception or 12 weeks’ gestation) and at 36 weeks’ gestation using the Australian Eating Survey (AES)(4). At the group level, maternal dietary quality was suboptimal and did not change significantly across pregnancy (mean scores of 37.5 ± 7.3 and 38.3 ± 6.7 out of 73 points at recruitment and late pregnancy, respectively; p > 0.05). Although differences in gut microbiome alpha (within–person) diversity between mothers and infants was highly significant (p < 0.0001), no differences in gut microbiome composition or diversity related to pregnancy status or gestational stage were observed. Maternal diet quality in pregnancy was also not significantly correlated with microbial beta (between–people) diversity in samples taken in late pregnancy (PERMANOVA: R2 = 0.039, p > 0.05). When fibre intake was separated into quartiles, there was a significant (p < 0.01) difference in alpha diversity between the lowest and highest quartiles of intake, though differences in beta diversity were not significant (PERMANOVA: R2 = 0.06, p > 0.05). Microbiota composition and diversity in infant samples was also not significantly affected by maternal dietary quality or fibre intake, but rather by birth mode and feeding type. Significantly different clustering of infant samples was clear between vaginal and caesarean births (PERMANOVA: R2 = 0.029, p = 0.005). Gut bacterial alpha diversity was significantly lower (p < 0.01) between infants receiving breastmilk compared to formula. As this area of research is still in its ‘infancy’, appropriately powered longitudinal studies are required to understand the processes that shape diet and microbiome interactions during the critical first 1,000 days of life and beyond.
- Research Article
- 10.3389/fnut.2024.1428356
- Jul 29, 2024
- Frontiers in nutrition
To prospectively explore the association of maternal serum 25(OH)D levels with the infant's gut microbiota in Chinese populations, and to evaluate its potential influence on the dynamic change patterns of offspring's gut microbiota from 1 to 6 months old. Eighty-seven mother-infant dyads (vitamin D insufficient group vs. normal group = 59 vs. 28) were included in this longitudinal study. Two fecal samples were collected for the included infant at home by the parents at 1 month of age ("M1 phase") and 6 months of age ("M6 phase"). Gut microbiota were profiled by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We performed mixed effects models on alpha diversity metrics, PERMANOVA tests on beta diversity distances, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to identify differently abundant taxa. We observed significantly lower Pielou's evenness and Shannon diversity in the vitamin D insufficient group in the M6 phase (p = 0.049 and 0.015, respectively), but not in the M1 phase (p > 0.05), and the dynamic changes in alpha diversity from 1 to 6 months old were significantly different according to maternal vitamin D status (p < 0.05). There were also significant differences in gut microbiota composition between the vitamin D insufficient group and normal group, both in the M1 and M6 phases (LDA score > 2.0, p < 0.05). Moreover, among the predicted metagenome functions, pathways related to amino acid biosynthesis, starch degradation, and purine nucleotides biosynthesis were enriched in the vitamin D insufficient group. Our findings highlight that maternal vitamin D status plays a pivotal role in shaping the early-life gut microbiota of the next generation.
- Research Article
2
- 10.5603/dk.2019.0024
- Jan 24, 2020
- Clinical Diabetology
Introduction. Many studies have evaluated the relationship between diabetes and microbiota. In animal models, the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors altered the gut microbiota. We investigated whether linagliptin alters the gastrointestinal flora in humans. Materials and methods. This prospective cohort study enrolled 24 patients: 5 patients with maturity onset diabetes of the young associated with HNF1A mutation and 19 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Stool samples were collected at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment intensification with either linagliptin or a sulphonylurea alongside current treatment. Faecal 16S rRNA was analysed by next-generation sequencing. Results. Nine patients initiated linagliptin whereas 15 patients initiated or increased the dose of a sulphonylurea. After linagliptin treatment, we did not observe changes in taxa in L2–L7 based on analysis of composition of microbiomes (ANCOM). The same held true for pairwise alpha diversity (Shannon diversity, p = 0.59; Pielou’s measure of evenness, p = 0.68; and observed operational taxonomic units [OTUs], p = 0.77) and beta diversity distances (unweighted UniFrac, p = 0.99; weighted UniFrac, p = 0.93; Bray-Curtis, p = 0.98; and Jaccard, p = 0.99). Similarly, after sulphonylurea intensification, we did not observe changes in taxa in L2–L7 in ANCOM, nor were there changes in alpha diversity (Shannon diversity, p = 0.19; Pielou’s measure of evenness, p = 0.21; and observed OTUs, p = 0.42) or beta diversity distances (unweighted UniFrac, p = 0.99; weighted UniFrac, p = 0.99; Bray-Curtis, p = 1; and Jaccard, p = 0.99). Conclusion. We did not observe changes in colonic microbiota 4 weeks after addition of linagliptin to current diabetes treatment. Further studies are required to determine whether linagliptin influences the colonic microbiota in humans.
- Research Article
- 10.1002/jpn3.70216
- Sep 28, 2025
- Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is frequently associated with gastrointestinal problems, including intestinal microbiota dysbiosis. Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapies, such as elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA), have demonstrated improvements in lung function, abdominal symptoms, and quality of life in patients with CF. However, the impact of these modulators on the intestinal microbiota in the pediatric population remains incompletely understood. The objective of this study was to characterize the changes in the intestinal microbiota of pediatric patients with CF after 6 months of treatment with ELX/TEZ/IVA. Thirty-one patients with CF, aged 6-18 years, were recruited. Stool samples were collected before the initiation of treatment and approximately 6 months thereafter. Microbiota analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Statistical analyses were employed to evaluate changes in alpha and beta diversity and variations in the relative abundance of different bacterial taxa. Clinical variables such as concomitant use of azithromycin and probiotics were considered. After 6 months of treatment, no significant changes in the alpha diversity were observed. However, alterations in bacterial composition were detected. A decrease in the abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria, such as Enterobacteriaceae members (Escherichia/Shigella) was observed. The abundance of genus Blautia increased. Differential analysis according to antibiotic and probiotic consumption revealed specific changes in microbiota composition. ELX/TEZ/IVA therapy for 6 months induces changes in the intestinal microbiota composition of pediatric patients with CF, characterized by a reduction in potentially harmful bacteria and an increase in potentially beneficial bacteria. These findings suggest a modulation towards a healthier intestinal microbiota profile.
- Research Article
- 10.3899/jrheum.2025-0314.78
- Jul 1, 2025
- The Journal of Rheumatology
ObjectivesAnkylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the spine and pelvis. Here, we aim to explore the Gut-Joint Axis in AS with a focus on changes in alpha diversity (diversity within a single sample) and beta diversity (differences in microbiota composition between samples) following Anti-TNF treatment.MethodsA comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane databases was conducted up to May 2024. Studies comparing fecal microbiota composition in AS patients before and after Anti-TNF therapy were identified and selected based on PRISMA guidelines. From an initial pool of 1,163 studies, 5 met inclusion criteria, involving 230 AS patients and 209 healthy controls (HC). We excluded duplicates, animal studies, case reports, conference abstracts, non-English articles, irrelevant studies, non-full-text manuscripts, and Mendelian randomization studies, as these do not provide direct observational data on microbiota composition and could introduce methodological heterogeneity.ResultsAfter manually screening 197 studies, 5 manuscripts were included, comprising 4 prospective cohorts and 1 case-control study. All the studies were conducted in China, with 16S rRNA sequencing used in 3 studies and Shotgun sequencing in 2 studies. None of the patients or controls in the included studies received antibiotics within the 3 months prior to enrollment. Across multiple studies, Anti-TNF therapy significantly impacts gut microbiota composition in AS patients, often shifting it toward a pattern more similar to healthy controls. Both alpha and beta diversity metrics show that AS patients have distinct gut microbiota compositions compared to healthy individuals, but Anti-TNF therapy appears to reduce these differences, suggesting a restorative effect on the microbiome (Table 1).ConclusionOur analysis underscores the potential role of gut microbiota as a target in AS treatment. The effect of Anti-TNF therapy on gut microbiota could potentially contribute to its therapeutic efficacy in managing Ankylosing Spondylitis.
- Research Article
1
- 10.36401/jipo-23-30
- Aug 1, 2024
- Journal of immunotherapy and precision oncology
Disparities in incidence and outcome of rectal cancer are multifactorial in etiology but may be due, in part, to differences in gut microbiome composition. We used serial robust statistical approaches to assess baseline gut microbiome composition in a diverse cohort of patients with rectal cancer receiving definitive treatment. Microbiome composition was compared by age at diagnosis (< 50 vs ≥ 50 years), race and ethnicity (White Hispanic vs non-Hispanic), and response to therapy. Alpha diversity was assessed using the Shannon, Chao1, and Simpson diversity measures. Beta diversity was explored using both Bray-Curtis dissimilarity and Aitchison distance with principal coordinate analysis. To minimize false-positive findings, we used two distinct methods for differential abundance testing: LinDA and MaAsLin2 (all statistics two-sided, Benjamini-Hochberg corrected false discovery rate < 0.05). Among 64 patients (47% White Hispanic) with median age 51 years, beta diversity metrics showed significant clustering by race and ethnicity (p < 0.001 by both metrics) and by onset (Aitchison p = 0.022, Bray-Curtis p = 0.035). White Hispanic patients had enrichment of bacterial family Prevotellaceae (LinDA fold change 5.32, MaAsLin2 fold change 5.11, combined adjusted p = 0.0007). No significant differences in microbiome composition were associated with neoadjuvant therapy response. We identified distinct gut microbiome signatures associated with race and ethnicity and age of onset in a diverse cohort of patients undergoing definitive treatment for rectal cancer.
- Research Article
- 10.3389/fevo.2024.1385972
- May 22, 2024
- Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in host physiology and the disruption of host–microbiota relationships caused by environmental stressors can impact host growth and survival. In this study, we used Daphnia galeata as a model organism to investigate the interactive effects of fish kairomones on the life-history traits and gut microbiota alterations of D. galeata, as well as the relationship between life-history traits and gut microbiota composition. The presence of fish kairomones enhanced fecundity, decreased growth, and altered gut microbiota, with significant changes in alpha diversity but not in beta diversity in the genotype KB5 of D. galeata. Statistical analysis revealed that the relative abundance of the Pseudomonadaceae family significantly increased upon exposure to fish kairomone, while the relative abundance of the Comamonadaceae family significantly decreased. The decreased growth in genotype KB5 may be associated with a significant increase in Pseudomonas, a member of the family Pseudomonadaceae, which is generally deficient in essential fatty acids, potentially negatively impacting growth. Meanwhile, it is speculated that the significant decrease in Limnohabitans belonging to the Comamonadaceae family is associated with the reduction of body size and increased fecundity of KB5 when exposed to fish kairomones. Furthermore, the genus Candidatus Protochlamydia was observed only under the fish kairomones-treated condition. These data suggest that variations in host life-history traits related to reproduction and growth are potentially associated with the relative abundance or presence of these microbial genera. Our research findings provide valuable insights into understanding the impact of biotic stress on the interaction between hosts and microbiota.
- Research Article
3
- 10.3390/ijms24032383
- Jan 25, 2023
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Dystonia is a movement disorder in which patients have involuntary abnormal movements or postures. Non-motor symptoms, such as psychiatric symptoms, sleep problems and fatigue, are common. We hypothesise that the gut microbiome might play a role in the pathophysiology of the (non-)motor symptoms in dystonia via the gut-brain axis. This exploratory study investigates the composition of the gut microbiome in dystonia patients compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, the abundance of neuro-active metabolic pathways, which might be implicated in the (non-)motor symptoms, was investigated. We performed both metagenomic and 16S rRNA sequencing on the stool samples of three subtypes of dystonia (27 cervical dystonia, 20 dopa-responsive dystonia and 24 myoclonus-dystonia patients) and 25 controls. While microbiome alpha and beta diversity was not different between dystonia patients and controls, dystonia patients had higher abundances of Ruminococcus torques and Dorea formicigenerans, and a lower abundance of Butyrivibrio crossotus compared to controls. For those with dystonia, non-motor symptoms and the levels of neurotransmitters in plasma explained the variance in the gut microbiome composition. Several neuro-active metabolic pathways, especially tryptophan degradation, were less abundant in the dystonia patients compared to controls. This suggest that the gut-brain axis might be involved in the pathophysiology of dystonia. Further studies are necessary to confirm our preliminary findings.
- Research Article
- 10.14710/jgi.11.1.18-38
- Dec 2, 2022
- Jurnal Gizi Indonesia (The Indonesian Journal of Nutrition)
Background: It has been shown that gut microbiota dysbiosis may induce intestinal permeability, and systemic inflammation, leading to metabolic dysregulation. Furthermore, it has been implicated in the etiology of obesity. Dietary intake is known to affect the gut microbiota. These RCTs suggested that different dietary interventions may exhibit different effects on the composition of gut microbiota in overweight or obese individuals.Objectives: This systematic review aimed to determine the effect of dietary intervention on the gut microbiota profiles in overweight or obese adults. The primary outcome of this systematic review is alpha-beta diversity and its changes at the species level.Materials and Methods: This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in the PROSPERO database with registration number CRD42022298891. A systematic search was conducted through the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus literature using the terms: “gut microbiota”,“microbiome”,“overweight”,“obesity”, “insulin sensitivity”,“insulin resistance”,“blood glucose”,“randomized controlled trial”. After screening abstracts and full texts, 18 articles were extracted by two authors.Results: Among the 18 RCT studies, dietary intervention gave an impact on gut microbiota alpha diversity changes in four studies. However, 7 studies showed no significant changes or differences compared to the placebo group. Beta diversity analysis was reported in 7 among 11 studies that performed alpha diversity analysis. Significant changes were found in food nutrients group (fiber supplementation) studies conducted over 8-12 weeks period. Seven more studies did not report any analysis of variance in either alpha or beta diversity. Changes in the composition of gut microbiota could be observed in dietary pattern interventions and resulting in improved metabolic status, except in the fried meat group diet. Interventions with food groups, food nutrients, and probiotics did not change the composition of gut microbiota.Conclusion: The effects of dietary interventions on alpha-beta diversity are inconsistent, but rather showed more consistent effects on the changes in microbiota composition, especially in dietary pattern interventions.
- Research Article
3
- 10.1093/femsec/fiad096
- Aug 16, 2023
- FEMS Microbiology Ecology
The gut microbiome is important for host fitness and is influenced by many factors including the host's environment. Captive environments could potentially influence the richness and composition of the microbiome and understanding these effects could be useful information for the care and study of millions of animals in captivity. While previous studies have found that the microbiome often changes due to captivity, they have not examined how quickly these changes can occur. We predicted that the richness of the gut microbiome of wild-caught birds would decrease with brief exposure to captivity and that their microbiome communities would become more homogeneous. To test these predictions, we captured wild house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and collected fecal samples to measure their gut microbiomes immediately after capture ("wild sample") and again 5-10 days after capture ("captive sample"). There were significant differences in beta diversity between the wild and captive samples, and captive microbiome communities were more homogenous but only when using nonphylogenetic measures. Alpha diversity of the birds' microbiomes also decreased in captivity. The functional profiles of the microbiome changed, possibly reflecting differences in stress or the birds' diets before and during captivity. Overall, we found significant changes in the richness and composition of the microbiome after only a short exposure to captivity. These findings highlight the necessity of considering microbiome changes in captive animals for research and conservation purposes.
- Research Article
- 10.3390/nu17142284
- Jul 10, 2025
- Nutrients
Background: Early time-restricted eating combined with energy restriction (eTRE + ER) has been shown to reduce fat mass, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and fasting glucose more effectively than late TRE with energy restriction (lTRE + ER) or energy restriction (ER) alone. Given the gut microbiome’s sensitivity to circadian rhythms, we examined whether adding TRE, particularly eTRE, to ER alters gut microbiota composition beyond ER alone, and whether such effects persist during follow-up. Methods: We analysed anthropometric, biochemical and gut microbiome data from 76 participants at baseline and after a 3-month intervention (eTRE + ER: n = 33; lTRE + ER: n = 23; ER: n = 20). Follow-up microbiome data 6-months after the end of intervention were available for 43 participants. Gut microbiota composition was assessed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing of stool samples. Results: No significant between-group differences in beta diversity were observed over time. However, changes in alpha diversity differed significantly across groups at the end of the intervention (Shannon: F = 5.72, p < 0.001; Simpson: F = 6.72, p < 0.001; Richness: F = 3.99, p = 0.01) and at follow-up (Richness: F = 3.77, p = 0.02). lTRE + ER led to the greatest reductions in diversity post intervention, while ER was least favourable during follow-up. Although no significant between-group differences were observed at the phylum level either at the end of the intervention or during follow-up, only the eTRE + ER group exhibited a significant decrease in Bacillota and an increase in Bacteroidota during follow-up. At the genus level, differential abundance analysis revealed significant shifts in taxa such as Faecalibacterium, Subdoligranulum, and other genera within the Ruminococcaceae and Oscillospiraceae families. In the eTRE + ER, Faecalibacterium and Subdoligranulum increased, while in other groups decreased. Notably, the changes in Faecalibacterium were negatively correlated with fasting glucose, while the increase in Subdoligranulum was inversely associated with DBP; however, both associations were weak in strength. Conclusions: eTRE + ER may promote beneficial, lasting shifts in the gut microbiome associated with improved metabolic outcomes. These results support further research into personalized TRE strategies for treatment of obesity.
- Research Article
- 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-3731
- Apr 21, 2025
- Cancer Research
Introduction: Diet plays a crucial role in shaping the gut microbiome, which in turn can influence cancer progression and patient outcomes. Specific dietary patterns - such as those rich in fiber, protein, and healthy fats - can promote a balanced microbiome, support immune function, reduce inflammation, and improve treatment response. In contrast, diets high in processed foods and unhealthy fats may disrupt the microbiome, potentially leading to poorer outcomes. Understanding the impact of dietary patterns on the microbiome and cancer progression could provide valuable insights into personalized nutrition strategies aimed at improving colorectal cancer (CRC) survival. This study explores the relationship between nutrient-based dietary patterns, microbiome composition, and overall survival (OS) among CRC patients. Methods: Pre-surgery fecal samples were collected from 129 stage I to IV CRC patients in the ColoCare Study, a prospective cohort of newly diagnosed CRC patients, in Utah, US and Heidelberg, Germany. To characterize the gut microbiome, we performed 16S rRNA sequencing. We calculated estimates of alpha and beta diversity, relative abundance, and a priori selected bacterial presence or absence. DESeq2 was used to quantify differential abundance. Principal component analysis was applied to identify nutrient-based dietary patterns, including 23 a priori selected macro- and micronutrients from Food Frequency Questionnaires. Nutrients were log-transformed and adjusted for total energy intake. OS was assessed in 117 stage I to III CRC patients, using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: We identified two major dietary patterns: a “Western diet” characterized by e.g. high intake of protein, fats, and carbohydrates, and a “vitamins & minerals diet” with high intake of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin B6, potassium, and calcium. Alpha diversity was significantly higher in stage I patients compared to stage IV (Shannon index, p=0.04) and significantly different between study centers (Shannon index, p&lt;0.01). Beta diversity was significantly different comparing patients adhering to a low vs. high “Western diet” (Bray Curtis distance, p=0.02). We did not observe statistically significant differences in relative abundance among patients following a “Western diet” or a “vitamins & minerals diet”. Additionally, no significant association was found between microbiome composition and OS. Conclusion: While dietary patterns were linked to gut microbiome diversity, no significant association was observed between microbiome composition and OS in CRC patients. To further substantiate these findings, examining dietary patterns at the food group level may provide additional insights. Additionally, metagenomic sequencing is essential to investigate species, gene, and functional profiles in larger patient populations. Citation Format: Biljana Gigic, Tian Jin, Mmadili N. Ilozumba, Victoria Damerell, Doratha A. Byrd, Tengda Lin, Maria Gomez, Van Manh H. Le, Alireza Shamsian, Farzaneh Malekian, Jennifer Ose, Sheetal Hardikar, Jane C. Figueiredo, Christopher I. Li, David Shibata, Adetunji T. Toriola, Gianni Panagiotou, Ute Nöthlings, W Zac Stephens, June L. Round, Cornelia M. Ulrich, Caroline Himbert, Christoph Kahlert. The role of dietary patterns and microbiome composition in colorectal cancer survival: The ColoCare Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 3731.
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