Persistent Effects Of Dietary Selection And Inbreeding On Microbiome Composition And Longevity In Drosophila
Have you ever wondered if what your ancestors ate could affect your health today? New research using fruit flies (Drosophila) suggests that the answer might be yes! This study explored how the diets of previous generations, along with inbreeding (breeding between closely related individuals), can leave a long-term mark on an organism’s survival and the community of microbes living in its gut, known as the microbiome.
The findings show that both historical diet and inbreeding can lead to lasting physiological costs, generally resulting in shorter lifespans compared to flies whose ancestors were not subjected to these conditions. However, the specific type of ancestral diet played a significant role. For instance, flies whose ancestors experienced a diet restricted in protein tended to live longer in their later years and maintained a more stable gut microbiome, meaning the types and proportions of bacteria in their gut remained consistent over time. In contrast, ancestral diets high in sugar or those that fluctuated between different food types were linked to problems earlier in life and noticeable shifts in the dominant types of gut bacteria as the flies aged.
Essentially, the study highlights that an organism’s nutritional history and the “microbial legacies” it inherits – the persistent effects on its gut bacteria – are crucial in determining how long it lives and how it ages. These ongoing interactions between the host organism and its microbes can profoundly influence health across generations.
Source: link to paper