Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026

11:22
Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
Published on: October 15, 2019
Associations Between Social Jetlag and Gut Microbiome Profiles in Adolescents
Qinghai Gong1, Keqin Ding1, Wangwei Lou2
1Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
Nature and Science of Sleep
|June 2, 2026
Summary
Sedentary lifestyle in adolescents is linked to specific gut bacteria shifts, not overall microbiome changes. Further research is needed to understand the health implications of this gut-brain axis connection.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Gut-brain axis
- Adolescent health
Background:
- The microbiota-gut-brain axis is crucial for health.
- Emerging evidence connects sedentary lifestyle (SJL) to the gut microbiome.
- This study examines SJL's impact on adolescent gut microbial composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between self-reported SJL and gut microbiome diversity in adolescents.
- To explore correlations between SJL and specific bacterial taxa and functional genes.
- To determine if SJL influences the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 120 healthy adolescents (mean age 12.69 years).
- Assessed self-reported SJL and analyzed gut microbial alpha-diversity, F/B ratio, taxa, and functional gene diversity.
- Compared microbiome composition between adolescents with SJL <2 h/d and ≥2 h/d.
Main Results:
- Continuous SJL negatively correlated with microbial alpha-diversity at the family level (P<0.05).
- Specific bacterial taxa and genera showed differential abundance related to SJL.
- The glutamate dehydrogenase gene (gdh_K00262) was enriched in the high SJL group after FDR correction (q=0.05).
Conclusions:
- Adolescent SJL is associated with shifts in functionally relevant gut taxa, not global microbiome restructuring.
- The specific mechanisms linking SJL and the gut microbiome require further investigation.
- Understanding this interaction is vital for adolescent health outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
Gut-Brain Axis
The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such as...
Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiota
The human gut microbiome includes a diverse array of microbial species, including beneficial commensals and opportunistic pathogens, which interact to support host health. These microbes contribute to essential functions such as nutrient metabolism, immune system modulation, and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. However, disruptions to this equilibrium—referred to as dysbiosis—can have widespread physiological consequences.Dysbiosis is often characterized by reduced microbial...
Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics
Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
Anatomy of the Intestines
Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Functions of the Gut Microbiota
The gut microbiota includes trillions of microorganisms that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. This complex ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal and systemic health. Most of these microbes inhabit the large intestine, establishing a relatively stable and diverse community that contributes to gut homeostasis through various metabolic, immunological, and protective mechanisms.Dominant bacterial phyla, such as...
