Soil exposure accelerates recovery of the gut microbiota in antibiotic-treated mice

Environmental exposure to low cleanliness prevents the occurrence of allergic diseases and increases the richness and diversity of the intestinal microbiota. Antibiotics are widely used in clinical infection therapy but destroy the balance of the gut microbiota. In this study, the effects of cleanliness of the living environment on the gut microbiota are evaluated after administration of antibiotics. The patterns of gut microbiota are compared before and after antibiotic treatment in mice living in a higher standard clean environment with those of mice living in an unclean environment. The results show that dust exposure prevents the reduction in gut microbiota diversity following antibiotic treatment in mice and impaired structural changes in the gut microbiota. Additionally, dust exposure accelerates the recovery of the gut microbiota, regardless of consumption of a high-fat or normal diet. An unsanitary environment can reduce the effects of antibiotics on intestinal microecology in mice. These findings provide insights into approaches for regulating antibiotic-induced symbiosis of the gut microbiota and preventing diseases.