Fecal microbiota transfer between young and aged mice reverses hallmarks of the aging gut, eye, and brain

Abstract Background Altered intestinal microbiota composition in later life is associated with inflammaging, declining tissue function, and increased susceptibility to age-associated chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative dementias. Here, we tested the hypothesis that manipulating the intestinal microbiota influences the development of major comorbidities associated with aging and, in particular, inflammation affecting the brain and retina. Methods Using fecal microbiota transplantation, we exchanged the intestinal microbiota of young (3 months), old (18 months), and aged (24 months) mice. Whole metagenomic shotgun sequencing and metabolomics were used to develop a custom analysis workflow, to analyze…

• UO
  University of East Anglia

  Award: BBS/E/F/000PR10353
• DF
  Directorate for Biological Sciences
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  Awards: BBS/E/F/000PR10356, BBS/E/F/000PR10353, BB/CCG1860/1, BB/R012490/, N000250/1, BB/N000250/1, BBS/E/ F/000PR10355, BBSRC Core Capability Grant BB/CCG1860/1, BBS/E/F/000PR10356, BBS/E/F/000PR10355, BB/N000250/1, BBS/E/F/000PR10353, R012490