Human and rat gut microbiome composition is maintained following sleep restriction

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Sleep Science
• Human Health

Background:

• Modern society faces widespread sleep insufficiency, linked to metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases.
• Gut microbiome dysbiosis is also associated with these pathologies.
• This study investigates if sleep restriction impacts the gut microbiome, potentially contributing to disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the effects of sleep restriction on the fecal microbiome in a cross-species model (rats and humans).
• To determine if sleep deprivation perturbs gut microbial composition and richness.

Main Methods:

• Fecal samples from rats and humans undergoing sleep restriction were analyzed.
• 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing (V1-V2 hypervariable regions) was used to identify operational taxonomic units (OTUs).
• Microbiome richness and composition were compared between sleep-restricted and control groups.

Main Results:

• In rats, sleep restriction decreased OTU richness but did not alter major microbial populations.
• A single OTU (TM7-3a) was observed to increase with sleep restriction in rats.
• No significant changes in microbiome richness or composition were detected in humans due to sleep restriction.

Conclusions:

• The gut microbiome appears largely resistant to alterations induced by sleep restriction.
• Sleep loss may not be a primary driver of gut dysbiosis in the studied models.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex relationship between sleep and the gut microbiome.