AUTHOR=Zhang Fang , Wang Liying , Jin Jiayu , Pang Yulu , Shi Hao , Fang Ziyi , Wang Han , Du Yujie , Hu Yufan , Zhang Yingchun , Ding Xiaoyue , Zhu Zuobin 

TITLE=Insights into the genetic influences of the microbiota on the life span of a host

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1138979

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1138979

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Escherichia coli</italic> (<italic>E. coli</italic>) mutant strains have been reported to extend the life span of <italic>Caenorhabditis elegans</italic> (<italic>C. elegans</italic>). However, the specific mechanisms through which the genes and pathways affect aging are not yet clear. In this study, we fed <italic>Drosophila melanogaster</italic> (fruit fly) various <italic>E. coli</italic> single-gene knockout strains to screen mutant strains with an extended lifespan. The results showed that <italic>D. melanogaster</italic> fed with <italic>E. coli purE</italic> had the longest mean lifespan, which was verified by <italic>C. elegans</italic>. We conducted RNA-sequencing and analysis of <italic>C. elegans</italic> fed with <italic>E. coli purE</italic> (a single-gene knockout mutant) to further explore the underlying molecular mechanism. We used differential gene expression (DGE) analysis, enrichment analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to screen vital genes and modules with significant changes in overall expression. Our results suggest that <italic>E. coli</italic> mutant strains may affect the host lifespan by regulating the protein synthesis rate (<italic>cfz-2</italic>) and ATP level (<italic>catp-4</italic>). To conclude, our study could provide new insights into the genetic influences of the microbiota on the life span of a host and a basis for developing anti-aging probiotics and drugs.</p>