The gut microbiota is the microbial community that occupies the gastrointestinal tract, which is responsible for producing enzymes and molecules essential for host metabolism and for response and adaptation to the environment.
Increasing evidence demonstrates the importance of a balanced gut microbiota for mammalian health, for example in regulating the immune and endocrine systems, or in digesting food and producing vitamins. However, little is known about the impact of the microbial community in the gut on host reproduction, and if the consequences of an altered paternal microbiota influence the next generation.
The Hackett group at EMBL Rome showed that disrupting the gut microbiota in male mice increases the probability that their offspring are born with low weight, have severe growth restriction, and die prematurely. Their unprecedented findings might help to prevent some birth complications in humans.
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Images and animations: Morphology LLC
Voice over: Jessona Sound
© European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)