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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 13, 2025

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota

Published on: February 15, 2019

Human Gut Microbiota Plasticity throughout the Life Course.

Kerstin Thriene¹, Karin B Michels^1,2

¹Institute for Prevention and Cancer Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

|January 21, 2023

Summary

The human gut microbiota is most adaptable at birth, with its plasticity decreasing throughout life. Understanding this microbial pattern is key for optimizing health and developing interventions.

Keywords:

exposome human gut microbiota plasticity window of opportunity

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Human Health
Life Course Research

Background:

The gut microbiota's role in health and disease is increasingly recognized.
Optimizing microbial patterns is crucial for leveraging microbiota's health benefits.
Understanding life-course variations in the gut microbiota is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the concept of human gut microbiota plasticity throughout the life course.
To highlight the implications of microbiota plasticity for health and interventions.

Main Methods:

Literature review on human gut microbiota plasticity.
Analysis of microbial colonization and its changes over the life span.

Main Results:

Gut microbiota plasticity is highest at birth, influenced by mode of delivery.
Microbiota plasticity continuously decreases postnatally, stabilizing with age.
Loss of plasticity impacts exposome interactions and health outcomes.

Conclusions:

The human gut microbiota exhibits significant plasticity, particularly in early life.
This plasticity diminishes over time, affecting health and intervention susceptibility.
Identifying critical 'windows of opportunity' is vital for microbiota-targeted health strategies.