Role of gene regulation and inter species interaction as a key factor in gut microbiota adaptation

Arch Microbiol. 2022 May 20;204(6):342. doi: 10.1007/s00203-022-02935-5.

Abstract

Gut microbiota is a class of microbial flora present in various eukaryotic multicellular complex animals such as human beings. Their community's growth and survival are greatly influenced by various factors such as host-pathogen, pathogen-environment and genetic regulation. Modern technologies like metagenomics have particularly extended our capacity to uncover the microbial treasures in challenging conditions like communities surviving at high altitude. Molecular characterizations by newly developed sequencing tools have shown that this complex interaction greatly influences microbial adaptation to the environment. Literature shows that gut microbiota alters the genetic expression and switches to an alternative pathway under the influence of unfavorable conditions. The remarkable adaptability of microbial genetic regulatory networks enables them to survive and expand in tough and energy-limited conditions. Variable prevalence of species in various regions has strengthened this initial evidence. In view of the interconnection of the world in the form of a global village, this phenomenon must be explored more clearly. In this regard, recently there has been significant addition of knowledge to the field of microbial adaptation. This review summarizes and shed some light on mechanisms of microbial adaptation via gene regulation and species interaction in gut microbiota.

Keywords: Environmental stress; Epigenetic modification; Genetic regulatory networks; High altitude; Metagenome.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acclimatization
  • Adaptation, Physiological / genetics
  • Animals
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome* / genetics
  • Metagenome
  • Metagenomics