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Updated: Mar 27, 2026
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Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
Published on: October 15, 2019
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Has provoking microbiota aggression driven the obesity epidemic?
Benoit Chassaing1, Andrew T Gewirtz1
1Center for Inflammation, Immunity and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Summary
The gut microbiome may drive obesity through aggressive bacteria that trigger inflammation. Societal factors like antibiotics and food additives might provoke this aggression, increasing obesity rates.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Metabolic disease research
Background:
- Gut microbiome alterations are linked to obesity and related diseases.
- Mechanisms driving these changes are not well understood.
- Inflammation plays a role in metabolic dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of the gut microbiome in obesity.
- To hypothesize mechanisms linking microbiota to metabolic disease.
- To explore societal factors influencing microbiota aggression.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of gut microbiome and obesity studies.
- Hypothesis formulation based on existing evidence.
- Analysis of potential societal influences on the gut microbiome.
Main Results:
- A hypothesis is proposed: aggressive microbiota components activate host pro-inflammatory genes, driving metabolic disease.
- Societal changes, including antibiotic use and food additives, are hypothesized to provoke microbiota aggression.
- This aggression may contribute to rising obesity and associated disease incidence.
Conclusions:
- The gut microbiome's role in obesity is complex and involves host-microbe interactions.
- Microbiota aggression, potentially driven by modern societal factors, is a plausible mechanism for obesity development.
- Further research is needed to validate these hypotheses and explore therapeutic interventions.
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