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Do microbiotas warm their hosts?

Eugene Rosenberg1, Ilana Zilber-Rosenberg2

  • 1a Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology , Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.

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|May 6, 2016
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microbiotas, the microbes living within hosts, may significantly contribute to heat generation. Microbial metabolism in the human gut could account for about 70% of resting body heat.

Keywords:
body temperatureholobiontmicrobial heat generationmicrobiota

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Host-microbe interactions
  • Physiology

Background:

  • All organisms are holobionts, comprising a host and its associated microbiota.
  • Microbiotas are known to influence host morphology, development, behavior, physiology, disease resistance, and evolution.
  • The role of microbiotas in host thermogenesis remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential role of microbial metabolism in host heat generation.
  • To quantify the heat produced by gut microbiota in humans.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and analysis of existing data on microbial metabolism.
  • Estimation of heat production based on metabolic rates of gut microbes.

Main Results:

  • Microbial metabolism in the human gut is estimated to produce 61 kcal/h.
  • This microbial heat production represents approximately 70% of an average person's resting heat output.

Conclusions:

  • Microbiotas may be a significant, previously underestimated source of host body heat.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the thermogenic contribution of microbiotas across different hosts and environments.