Regulation of life span by the gut microbiota in the short-lived African turquoise killifish

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.27014
• Publication Date: 2017-08-22T00:00:11Z
• Authors: Patrick Smith; David Willemsen; Miriam Popkes; Franziska Metge; Edson Gandiwa; Martin Reichard; Dario Riccardo Va...
• Keywords: Killifish; Life span; Model Organism

Gut bacteria occupy the interface between organism and external environment, contributing to homeostasis disease. Yet, causal role of gut microbiota during host aging is largely unexplored. Here, using African turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri), a naturally short-lived vertebrate, we show that plays key in modulating vertebrate life span. Recolonizing middle-age individuals with from young donors resulted span extension delayed behavioral decline. This intervention prevented decrease microbial diversity associated maintained young-like bacterial community, characterized by overrepresentation genera Exiguobacterium, Planococcus, Propionigenium Psychrobacter. Our findings demonstrate natural community can causally induce long-lasting beneficial systemic effects lead model.