Gut microbiome, stress and interventional strategies using hardy animals

The composition of the gut microbiota has been linked to acute stressors, suggesting that modulation of the gut microbiome is a potential avenue for enhancing human health and performance. The gut microbiome exerts its effects through several metabolites, which induce epigenetic and metabolic changes. Stress is a common occurrence in humans facing challenging environments such as military personnel and astronauts, but is not limited to humans. Among various species, crocodiles are well known for their "hardiness" and ability to achieve longevity, while surviving under stressful conditions. We speculated that their microbial gut flora produces substances contributing to their ability to resist stress, "wellbeing" and "longevity". Herein, we deliberate upon the stressors faced by individuals in testing conditions, and discuss potential avenues that can mitigate the gut microbiome compositional changes in order to augment human performance and overall health.