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Updated: Aug 28, 2025

An Intestinal Gut Organ Culture System for Analyzing Host-Microbiota Interactions
Published on: June 30, 2021
Circadian orchestration of host and gut microbiota in infection
Yaoyao Xia1,2, Xuezhi Ding1, Shengyi Wang1
1Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730050, China.
Abstract:
Circadian rhythms are present in almost every organism and regulate multiple aspects of biological and physiological processes (e.g. metabolism, immune responses, and microbial exposure). There exists a bidirectional circadian interaction between the host and its gut microbiota, and potential circadian orchestration of both host and gut microbiota in response to invading pathogens. In this review, we summarize what is known about these intestinal microbial oscillations and the relationships between host circadian clocks and various infectious agents (bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses), and discuss how host circadian clocks prime the immune system to fight pathogen infections as well as the direct effects of circadian clocks on viral activity (e.g. SARS-CoV-2 entry and replication). Finally, we consider strategies employed to realign normal circadian rhythmicity for host health, such as chronotherapy, dietary intervention, good sleep hygiene, and gut microbiota-targeted therapy. We propose that targeting circadian rhythmicity may provide therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of infectious diseases.
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