Coadaptation mechanism of the gut microbiota and human organism to physical loading

Abstract

The human organism is home to trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi. In order to survive, they have to adapt to the living environment of a host. The organism has adapted to mutual functioning by benefiting from microbiota in a certain way or removing its negative effects. The gut microorganisms influence all the organism systems, including the synthesis of heat-shock proteins. Their species composition and functional condition undergo changes depending on physical activity of a host organism. While moderate physical loading is of no doubt positive for the diversity of microbiota and the functioning of the intestinal barrier, the mechanism of influence of physical exercises on the microbiota biodiversity, its host and coadaptation is yet to be identified. Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria were found to dominate in long-distance-track athletes who train endurance, while Bacteroidescoccae dominated in sprinter runners. Marathon runners were found to have many representatives of conventionally pathogenic Veillonella genus. They convert lactate into propionate and acetate – substrates for ATF formation. Bacteria generate an additional energy and increase the endurance of an athlete. At the same time, they cause inflammatory process in the host’s gut. A temperature-increase effect is what the adaptation mechanisms to physical exercise and bacterial inflammatory process in the gut have in common. Rise in the temperature to a threshold value initiates an increased synthesis of heat-shock proteins, which regulate the function of the intestinal barrier by controlling high-density proteins. They are released from damaged or stressed cells and act as local “danger signals”. Detecting molecular mechanisms of interaction between the gut microbiota and the human organism subject to physical exercise can be a valuable for identifying safe volumes and thresholds of training load and maintaining health.