A mole rat's gut microbiota suggests selective influence of diet on microbial niche space and evolution.

ABSTRACT:

Impact statement

The composition of the microbiota is of critical importance for health and disease, and is receiving increased scientific and medical scrutiny. Of particular interest is the role of changing diets as a function of agriculture and, perhaps to an even greater extent, modern food processing. To probe the connection between diet and the gut's microbial community, the microbiota from a mole rat, a rodent with a relatively unusual diet, was analyzed in detail, and the microbes found were compared with previously identified organisms. The results show evidence of an adaptive radiation of some microbial clades, but relative stability in others. This suggests that the microbiota, like the genome, carries with it housekeeping components as well as other components which can

SUBMITTER: Ren L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6547004 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature