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Within-host evolution of the gut microbiome.

Tanja Dapa1, Daniel Pgh Wong2, Kimberly S Vasquez3

  • 1Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal.

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Gut microbes evolve rapidly within hosts, driven by mutations. This review explores short-term evolution in mammalian gut bacteria, examining causes, consequences, and future research directions using advanced sequencing and population genetics.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Gut bacteria exist in a complex host-microbe environment.
  • Ecological interactions shape gut microbial communities over long evolutionary periods.
  • Emerging evidence indicates rapid microbial evolution on shorter timescales within hosts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding short-term evolution of gut microbes.
  • To explore the drivers and impacts of rapid microbial evolution in mammalian guts.
  • To identify future research avenues for studying gut microbial adaptation.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental evolution studies in murine models.
  • Longitudinal tracking of human gut microbial populations.
  • Integration of deep-sequencing technologies.
  • Application of quantitative population genetics frameworks.

Main Results:

  • Gut commensals can acquire new mutations and evolve rapidly within individual hosts.
  • Short-term evolution significantly impacts the mammalian gut ecosystem.
  • Studies range from controlled experiments to real-world human cohort tracking.

Conclusions:

  • Short-term microbial evolution is a significant factor in gut ecology.
  • Future research should broaden species and host ranges.
  • Combining advanced sequencing with population genetics offers powerful insights into microbial adaptation.