Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Functions of the Gut Microbiota01:18

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...
Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics01:21

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...
Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiota01:18

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...
Overview of Protein Metabolism01:21

Overview of Protein Metabolism

Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Amino Acid Catabolism01:18

Amino Acid Catabolism

Microorganisms rely on proteins as an essential carbon and energy source, particularly in environments with limited polysaccharides or lipids. However, proteins are too large to cross the plasma membrane unaided, necessitating enzymatic degradation. Microbes secrete extracellular proteases and peptidases that hydrolyze proteins into peptides, which can then be transported across the membrane. Once inside the cell, intracellular proteases degrade these peptides into free amino acids, which...
Probiotics01:22

Probiotics

Probiotics are live, non-pathogenic microorganisms that confer health benefits by modulating the gut microbiota. The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbial ecosystem, and the balance of this microbiota is crucial for digestive and systemic health. Among the most extensively studied and utilized probiotics are species formerly classified within the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These organisms not only naturally colonize the human gut but are also consumed through...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

An accessible digital imaging workflow for multiplexed quantitative analysis of adult eye phenotypes in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2024
Same author

Ecological consequences of large herbivore exclusion in an African savanna: 12 years of data from the UHURU experiment.

Ecology·2022
Same journal

Host membranes provide hidden gateways for 'accidental pathogens'.

Trends in microbiology·2026
Same journal

Structural inequalities in global antimicrobial resistance governance.

Trends in microbiology·2026
Same journal

Environmental microbes as modulators of plant volatile landscapes: Implications for plant-insect chemical communication.

Trends in microbiology·2026
Same journal

Beyond AMGs: Phage-encoded transcription and sigma factors as understudied virocell reprogramming tools.

Trends in microbiology·2026
Same journal

Cronobacter spp.

Trends in microbiology·2026
Same journal

Anaerobic lignin deconstruction: A game changer for lignocellulosic biorefineries.

Trends in microbiology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota
07:15

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota

Published on: July 31, 2019

Gut microbes compensate for protein-deficient diets.

Nathaniel Carlson1, Jack D Jurmu1, Maria Denise Dearing1

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257S 1400E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.

Trends in Microbiology
|June 10, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The gut microbiome significantly enhances deer mouse diet quality by producing essential amino acids. These amino acids are absorbed by the host and integrated into muscle tissue, boosting nutritional status.

Keywords:
carbon stable isotopesdeer micediet qualityessential amino acidsgut microbiomeprotein

More Related Videos

Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model
05:41

Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model

Published on: April 6, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota
07:15

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota

Published on: July 31, 2019

Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model
05:41

Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model

Published on: April 6, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Animal physiology
  • Nutritional science

Background:

  • The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in host nutrition.
  • Understanding nutrient contribution from microbial symbionts is vital for host health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the gut microbiome's role in improving deer mouse diet quality.
  • To quantify the contribution of microbial amino acid synthesis to host nutrition.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized natural variation in carbon stable isotope signatures.
  • Performed amino acid-specific analysis.
  • Coupled isotopic and amino acid data to trace nutrient sources.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated significant production of essential amino acids by the gut microbiome.
  • Showed absorption of these microbially produced amino acids by the deer mouse host.
  • Confirmed incorporation of these amino acids into host muscle tissue, indicating a direct nutritional benefit.

Conclusions:

  • The gut microbiome substantively contributes to improving deer mouse diet quality.
  • Microbial amino acid synthesis is a key mechanism for enhancing host nutrition and muscle development.