High-fat diet impairs microbial metabolite production and aggravates influenza A infection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alterations in the gut microbiom can significantly impact various regions in the human body, including the pulmonary tract. This study investigates alterations in the gut microbiome during a high-fat diet (HFD), particularly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and how these metabolites affect lung infection caused by Influenza A virus (IAV).

Methods

We used a HFD-mouse model to evaluate gut microbiota composition, SCFA levels, and pulmonary outcomes following IAV infection. Microbial changes were analyzed via taxonomic and functional profiling and SCFA levels were measured from non-obese and obese serum donors. Ultimately, acetate's effects were tested ex vivo in human precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) and in vitro in pulmonary epithelial cells. Mechanistic studies in

SUBMITTER: Hornung F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12312391 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature