Gut Microbiota from Twins Discordant for Obesity Modulate Metabolism in Mice

Abstract

The role of specific gut microbes in shaping body composition remains unclear. We transplanted fecal microbiota from adult female twin pairs discordant for obesity into germ-free mice fed low-fat mouse chow, as well as diets representing different levels of saturated fat and fruit and vegetable consumption typical of the USA. Increased total body and fat mass, as well as obesity-associated metabolic phenotypes were transmissible with uncultured fecal communities, and with their corresponding fecal bacterial culture collections. Co-housing mice harboring an obese twin’s microbiota (Ob) with mice containing the lean co-twin’s microbiota (Ln) prevented the development of increased body mass and obesity-associated metabolic phenotypes in Ob cagemates. Rescue correlated with invasion of specific members of Bacteroidetes from the Ln microbiota into Ob microbiota, and was diet-dependent. These findings reveal transmissible, rapid and modifiable effects of diet-by-microbiota interactions.

Mutual reinforcement of pathophysiological host‐microbe interactions in intestinal stasis models

“…Microbiota from obese and lean twins induced obesity‐associated or lean metabolic phenotypes in GF mice (Ridaura et al. 2013). Gut microbiota also affect the progression of inflammation (Honda and Littman 2012).…”

Microbiology: Microbiome science needs a healthy dose of scepticism

“…Mice previously colonized with an 'obese' microbiome lost weight when supplied with a 'lean microbiome' , but only if also fed a normal or low-fat diet. Diet alone had little effect 9 . Although this elegantly controlled experiment suggests great potential for the microbiome and related therapies to affect health, it also shows the microbiome's limits: the effect was dependent on other factors, in this case diet.…”

Microbiome: A complicated relationship status

“…"And that can be from a mouse that's obese because of a genetic mutation in leptin, or mice that are obese due to consuming a high-fat, highsugar diet. " Researchers have even shown that germ-free mice that receive gut microbes from an obese human donor gain more weight than those that receive them from a lean person 7 .…”