Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
Characterization of Metabolic Status in Nonhuman Primates with the Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test
Published on: November 13, 2016
Characterization of Changes and Driver Microbes in Gut Microbiota During Healthy Aging Using A Captive Monkey Model
Zhi-Yuan Wei1, Jun-Hua Rao1, Ming-Tian Tang1
1Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China; Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Joint Primate Research Center for Chronic Diseases, Jiangnan University and Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
This study reveals lifelong changes in primate gut microbiota, showing network connectivity declines with age, potentially linked to healthy aging. Key microbes driving these shifts impact host metabolism and development.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Human population studies on age-related gut microbiota changes are confounded by environmental factors.
- Controlled environments are crucial for understanding age-dependent microbial shifts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize lifelong, age-associated gut microbial dynamics in captive crab-eating macaques.
- To identify key microbes and network changes linked to aging and host health.
Main Methods:
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing of gut microbial DNA.
- Analysis of microbial taxonomic profiles and network topology.
- Correlation of microbial changes with host age and metabolic functions.
Main Results:
- Identified age-associated shifts in commensals (e.g., Faecalibacterium) and pathogens (e.g., Helicobacter) from infancy to old age.
- Gut microbial network connectivity showed a significant decline with age, more so than diversity.
- Key driver microbes were linked to altered lipid, carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Primate gut microbiota undergoes lifelong, age-dependent changes, influenced by specific driver microbes.
- Declining microbial network connectivity may be a biomarker for healthy aging.
- Findings offer insights into host development and aging processes mediated by the gut microbiome.
