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Sex-specific postmortem microbiome dynamics in mice: implications for death definitions
Yangkui Xue1, Mengliang Huang1, Jianing Zhang1
1Department of Health, Yuncheng Vocational and Technical University, Yuncheng 044000, China.
FEMS Microbiology Letters
|July 8, 2025
Summary
The gut microbiome undergoes sex-specific changes soon after host death. This study introduces "ecological death" to describe the collapse of the host-associated microbial ecosystem.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Host-Microbe Interactions
- Postmortem Biology
Background:
- The symbiotic relationship between gut microbes and hosts is well-established.
- The microbial response in the early postmortem period is largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically characterize the postmortem response of the intestinal microbiota.
- To analyze dynamic changes in microbial composition after host death in male and female mice.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mouse model to study intestinal microbiota.
- Collected samples at multiple time points postmortem (0, 0.5, 2, 6, 12, 24 h).
- Analyzed microbial composition and metabolic pathway activity.
Main Results:
- Sex-dimorphic shifts in microbiome composition observed as early as 2 hours postmortem.
- Male mice showed increased functional redundancy and delayed restructuring.
- Female mice exhibited earlier community shifts and distinct biomarker taxa.
Conclusions:
- Host death triggers rapid, sex-specific changes in the gut microbiome.
- Introduced the concept of "ecological death" for the postmortem microbial ecosystem collapse.
- Microbial regulatory capacity retention post-death offers new perspectives on death.
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