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REVIEW article

Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Microorganisms in Vertebrate Digestive Systems
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1433675

The interaction between gut microbiota and hibernation in mammals

Provisionally accepted
  • Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Hibernation, an evolved survival trait among animals, enables them to endure frigid temperatures and food scarcity during the winter months, and it is a widespread phenomenon observed in mammals. The gut microbiota, a crucial component of animal nutrition and health, exhibits particularly dynamic interactions in hibernating mammals. This manuscript comprehensively evaluates the impacts of fasting, hypothermia, and hypometabolism on the gut microbiota of hibernating mammals. It suggests that alterations in the gut microbiota may contribute significantly to the maintenance of energy metabolism and intestinal immune function during hibernation, mediated by their metabolites. By delving into these intricacies, we can gain a deeper understanding of how hibernating mammals adapt to their environments and the consequences of dietary modifications on the symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiota and the host. Additionally, this knowledge can inform our comprehension of the protective mechanisms underlying long-term fasting in non-hibernating species, including humans, providing valuable insights into nutritional strategies and health maintenance.

    Keywords: Gut Microbiota, Hibernation, metabolite, immune, SCFAs

    Received: 16 May 2024; Accepted: 30 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Gao, Shen and BO. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Tingbei BO, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.