Genetic variation in gut microbe as a key regulator of host social behavior in C. elegans
Gut microbiota have been shown to influence the social behaviors of their hosts, while variations in host genetics can affect the composition of the microbiome. Nonetheless, the degree to which genetic variations in microbial populations impact host behavior, as well as any potential transgeneration...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Gut Microbes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2490828 |
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| author | Ying Li Ruijie Bai Yao Zhu Peng Shi Tao Wang Dianshuang Zhou Jianteng Zhou Tao Zhu Xinrong Zhang Rongrong Gu Xiaoyue Ding Hao Chen Xiangming Wang Zuobin Zhu |
| author_facet | Ying Li Ruijie Bai Yao Zhu Peng Shi Tao Wang Dianshuang Zhou Jianteng Zhou Tao Zhu Xinrong Zhang Rongrong Gu Xiaoyue Ding Hao Chen Xiangming Wang Zuobin Zhu |
| author_sort | Ying Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gut microbiota have been shown to influence the social behaviors of their hosts, while variations in host genetics can affect the composition of the microbiome. Nonetheless, the degree to which genetic variations in microbial populations impact host behavior, as well as any potential transgenerational effects, remains inadequately understood. Utilizing C. elegans as a model organism, we identified 77 strains of E. coli from a total of 3,983 mutants that significantly enhanced aggregation behavior through various neurobehavioral pathways. This discovery underscores a collaborative regulatory mechanism between microbial genetics and host behavior. Notably, we observed that some mutant bacteria might affect social behavior via the mitochondrial pathway. Additionally, the modulation of social behavior has been identified as a heritable trait in offspring. Our results provide a novel perspective on the regulatory role of microbial genetic variation in host behavior, which may have significant implications for human studies and the development of genetically engineered probiotics aimed at enhancing well-being across generations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e20b9cf0aad04b918f4300f1cfcba76e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1949-0976 1949-0984 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gut Microbes |
| spelling | doaj-art-e20b9cf0aad04b918f4300f1cfcba76e2025-08-20T02:11:46ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGut Microbes1949-09761949-09842025-12-0117110.1080/19490976.2025.2490828Genetic variation in gut microbe as a key regulator of host social behavior in C. elegansYing Li0Ruijie Bai1Yao Zhu2Peng Shi3Tao Wang4Dianshuang Zhou5Jianteng Zhou6Tao Zhu7Xinrong Zhang8Rongrong Gu9Xiaoyue Ding10Hao Chen11Xiangming Wang12Zuobin Zhu13Jiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaThe First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Cell Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaGut microbiota have been shown to influence the social behaviors of their hosts, while variations in host genetics can affect the composition of the microbiome. Nonetheless, the degree to which genetic variations in microbial populations impact host behavior, as well as any potential transgenerational effects, remains inadequately understood. Utilizing C. elegans as a model organism, we identified 77 strains of E. coli from a total of 3,983 mutants that significantly enhanced aggregation behavior through various neurobehavioral pathways. This discovery underscores a collaborative regulatory mechanism between microbial genetics and host behavior. Notably, we observed that some mutant bacteria might affect social behavior via the mitochondrial pathway. Additionally, the modulation of social behavior has been identified as a heritable trait in offspring. Our results provide a novel perspective on the regulatory role of microbial genetic variation in host behavior, which may have significant implications for human studies and the development of genetically engineered probiotics aimed at enhancing well-being across generations.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2490828C. elegansgut microbiotagenetic variationsocial behaviortransgenerational inheritance |
| spellingShingle | Ying Li Ruijie Bai Yao Zhu Peng Shi Tao Wang Dianshuang Zhou Jianteng Zhou Tao Zhu Xinrong Zhang Rongrong Gu Xiaoyue Ding Hao Chen Xiangming Wang Zuobin Zhu Genetic variation in gut microbe as a key regulator of host social behavior in C. elegans Gut Microbes C. elegans gut microbiota genetic variation social behavior transgenerational inheritance |
| title | Genetic variation in gut microbe as a key regulator of host social behavior in C. elegans |
| title_full | Genetic variation in gut microbe as a key regulator of host social behavior in C. elegans |
| title_fullStr | Genetic variation in gut microbe as a key regulator of host social behavior in C. elegans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic variation in gut microbe as a key regulator of host social behavior in C. elegans |
| title_short | Genetic variation in gut microbe as a key regulator of host social behavior in C. elegans |
| title_sort | genetic variation in gut microbe as a key regulator of host social behavior in c elegans |
| topic | C. elegans gut microbiota genetic variation social behavior transgenerational inheritance |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2490828 |
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