Microbiota (Gut) Evolution and Adaptation

作者：Maninder Meenu, Manali Singh, Kanu Priya Sharma, Payal Kapoor, Shekhar Kumar, Pinki Choudhary · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1201/9781003431107-2 · 研究领域：Economic and Social Issues

Human beings host gut microbiota, a critical component for maintaining human health. The gut microbiota (GM) is a dynamic part of the human superorganisms influenced by the human genome. It enables the host to adapt to various timelines, maximizing the host’s physiology from day-to-day activities throughout their entire lifespan and over human evolutionary history. The genetic composition of the GM undergoes constant modifications throughout an individual’s life, adapting its composition based on daily dietary changes and the specific physiological and immunological requirements of the host at different life stages. Conversely, the adaptability of the microbiota has been vital in adapting to shifts in lifestyle and nutritional patterns over recent evolutionary periods, like transitioning from Paleolithic hunter-gatherer communities to Neolithic agricultural farmers and eventually modern Westernized societies. This shift toward a Neolithic diet led to increased intake of simple carbohydrates, which favored enhanced digestion and absorption in humans’ small intestine, resulting in greater energy extraction from meals, leading them to thrive as shown by present population genetics. The interactions between human genetics, nutrition, and microbiome have profoundly molded contemporary communities historically and continue to impact global health today. This chapter delves into past knowledge while exploring current aspects concerning the evolution of GM adaptation within a dynamic...