Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026
11:40
High-Throughput Screening of Microbial Isolates with Impact on Caenorhabditis elegans Health
Published on: April 28, 2022
3.4K
Indoles from commensal bacteria extend healthspan
Robert Sonowal1, Alyson Swimm1, Anusmita Sahoo2,3,4
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322.
Summary
Microbiota-derived indoles enhance healthspan and reduce frailty in model organisms without extending maximum lifespan. These findings suggest potential therapeutic strategies for promoting healthy aging in humans.
Area of Science:
- Aging research
- Microbiology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Extending lifespan does not always improve healthspan, and can increase frailty.
- Mechanisms to uncouple lifespan extension from healthspan decline are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if factors exist that can extend healthspan independently of lifespan.
- To explore the role of microbiota-derived molecules in promoting healthy aging.
Main Methods:
- Tested indoles from commensal microbiota in model organisms (C. elegans, D. melanogaster, mice).
- Assessed effects on healthspan, lifespan, and frailty.
- Investigated the role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway.
Main Results:
- Indoles extended healthspan and reduced frailty in worms, flies, and mice.
- Indoles had a negligible effect on maximal lifespan.
- Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) was crucial for indole effects in worms and flies.
- Indole treatment in aged worms induced a youthful gene expression profile and extended reproductive span.
Conclusions:
- Microbiota-derived indoles promote healthy aging across diverse species via conserved pathways.
- Indoles may offer a therapeutic avenue for improving human healthspan and reducing age-related frailty.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine
1.8K
The gut microbiome is formed by a vast and diverse community of bacteria that colonizes our large intestine. These bacteria start residing in the gut from birth and continue diversifying throughout life, influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, and stress. The gut bacterial community also includes bacteria from food and those that enter the colon through the anus.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
1.8K
01:27Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes
1.1K
Firmicutes is a diverse phylum of Gram-positive bacteria characterized by a low GC content in their genomes. This phylum includes organisms with monoderm or diderm cell envelopes, highlighting a complex evolutionary history. Firmicutes comprises several major orders, including Lactobacillales, Clostridiales, and Bacillales, which exhibit remarkable diversity in their morphology, metabolism, and ecological roles.The order Lactobacillales includes lactic acid bacteria, which are fermentative...
1.1K
01:24Biosynthesis in Bacteria
797
Biosynthesis in bacteria is a fundamental anabolic process that generates essential macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. These macromolecules are critical for cellular growth, replication, and function. The process is tightly regulated and energetically linked to catabolic pathways to ensure optimal resource utilization.Biosynthetic pathways begin with precursor metabolites such as pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycolysis,...
797
01:28Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
762
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
762
01:23Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells
3.4K
The intestinal epithelial lining rapidly renews every 4 to 5 days. The renewal is facilitated by intestinal stem cells (ISCs) located at the base of the crypt– a gland located at the bottom of each villus. ISCs divide asymmetrically to form new stem cells and progenitor daughter cells. The daughter cells are called transit-amplifying (TA) cells which move upwards along the crypt and either differentiate into absorptive cells– the enterocytes or secretory cells– including the...
3.4K
01:16In-vitro Mutagenesis
17.1K
To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.
17.1K