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Updated: May 23, 2026

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota
Published on: February 15, 2019
Temporal variations of the gut microbiome in human health
Shuqin Zeng1, Alexandre Almeida2, Dezhi Mu1
1Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Abstract:
The colonisation of the human gut microbiome commences at birth and continues to evolve throughout the lifespan. A balanced symbiotic relationship between the host and gut microbiome is essential for maintaining overall health. This two-part Series presents a comprehensive overview of the gut microbiome across temporal and spatial dimensions, considering diurnal, seasonal, and lifespan variations while covering the entire gastrointestinal tract. We also discuss the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that shape the microbial ecosystem and affect host homoeostasis, health, and disease susceptibility. In this first Series paper, we summarise current knowledge on the microbial succession and evolutionary trajectory of the gut microbiome from neonates to adults aged 100 years and older, subsequently focusing on diurnal rhythms and seasonal patterns. We then discuss how these temporal variations in the gut microbiome are determined and how they contribute to beneficial or detrimental health outcomes in the host. Overall, elucidating the multiscale temporal dynamics of the human gut microbiome will open crucial opportunities to expand knowledge of host-microbiome interactions and their biological and clinical implications.
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