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Updated: Feb 17, 2026
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An Intestinal Gut Organ Culture System for Analyzing Host-Microbiota Interactions
Published on: June 30, 2021
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Gut Microbiota and Host Juvenile Growth
Martin Schwarzer1,2, Maura Strigini3, François Leulier4
1Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon (IGFL), Université de Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5242, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69364, Lyon Cedex 07, France. schwarzer@biomed.cas.cz.
Calcified Tissue International
|December 8, 2017
Summary
The gut microbiota, comprising trillions of microbes, significantly influences juvenile growth, particularly when nutrition is suboptimal. Specific microbial communities can enhance growth by positively impacting key hormone signaling pathways.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Developmental Biology
- Nutrition Science
- Physiology
Background:
- Parental hopes for child development traditionally focus on genetics and nutrition.
- The role of the intestinal microbiota, a complex community of microbes, in host growth is a recent area of scientific focus.
- Existing human and animal studies suggest a significant impact of gut microbiota on juvenile growth, especially under poor nutritional conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the multifaceted role of the intestinal microbiota in host juvenile growth.
- To explore how gut microbiota influences growth both positively and negatively across different conditions.
- To understand the mechanisms by which gut microbiota interacts with host physiology and development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized integrative approaches combining genetics, developmental biology, microbiology, nutrition, and physiology.
- Applied methodologies to both invertebrate and vertebrate model systems.
- Analyzed the impact of specific gut microbiota compositions on host growth and hormonal signaling.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a clear role for the intestinal microbiota in juvenile growth, particularly under suboptimal nutrient conditions.
- Identified specific gut microbial communities that can positively influence growth.
- Showed that these beneficial microbiota can modulate insulin/IGF-1 and steroid hormone signaling pathways.
Conclusions:
- The intestinal microbiota is a critical factor in juvenile development and maturation.
- Gut microbiota composition can be engineered or selected to promote host growth.
- Microbiota-mediated hormonal signaling plays a key role in mediating growth effects.
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