The gut microbiome of healthy Japanese centenarians has been investigated by scientists at the University of Copenhagen. Their research identified a unique symbiosis of gut bacteria and bacteriophages which may play a role in these individuals’ long lives.
As humans, we are constantly in search of longevity and optimal health. We engage in healthy behaviors such as fasting, and yearly, we spend billions on healthcare with hopes of lengthening our lives. Intriguingly, some people seem to achieve this feat of living a century with apparent ease. The question then is, what’s their secret?
The mystery has spurred researchers from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research at the University of Copenhagen on a quest for answers.
Examining the gut microbiome of 176 healthy Japanese centenarians, the team discovered a unique constellation of gut bacteria and bacteriophages in these individuals.
“We have a keen interest in understanding why certain people live exceptionally long lives. Previous studies indicate that the gut microbiome of older Japanese citizens creates novel molecules that enhance resistance to pathogenic microorganisms. If their guts are more resilient to infections, it stands to reason that this could be a factor contributing to their extended lifespans,” explains Postdoc Joachim Johansen, lead author of the study.
The study suggests that specific viruses in the gut can positively influence gut flora and consequently, our health.
“There are billions of viruses in our gut that coexist with bacteria, without any interest in human cells. Their targets are bacterial cells. Considering the hundreds of different types of bacteria in our guts, there’s a vast array of bacteriophages,” comments Associate Professor Simon Rasmussen, another author of the study.
The research team noted that apart from newly discovered protective bacteriophages, the gut flora of the centenarians was particularly diverse and intriguing.
“We observed a rich biological diversity in both bacteria and bacteriophages in the centenarians. Such high microbial diversity is generally associated with a healthy gut microbiome, which we believe offers better protection against age-related diseases,” states Johansen.
By understanding the makeup of the centenarians’ gut flora, we can start to comprehend how we might extend the lifespan of other individuals. With a specially designed algorithm, the researchers were able to map the gut bacteria and bacteriophages of the centenarians.
Rasmussen expands, “We aim to understand the dynamics of the gut flora. We want to decipher how different bacteria and viruses interact and how we can engineer a microbiome that promotes a long, healthy life. The algorithm allows us to describe the balance between viruses and bacteria.”
Knowing the relationship between viruses and bacteria in these long-lived individuals could help determine the optimal balance of gut microbiome for promoting health and longevity.
Additionally, this new knowledge about gut bacteria could potentially instruct us on how to optimize the human body’s bacterial composition to better fight disease.
“We have found that certain viruses can actually enhance the bacteria they infect. The bacteriophages discovered in the healthy Japanese centenarians carried extra genes that could potentially strengthen the bacteria, transforming specific molecules in the gut. This may contribute to stabilizing the gut flora and reducing inflammation,” Johansen elucidates.
Rasmussen further suggests, “If we identify bacteria and viruses that positively impact the human gut flora, it’s only logical to determine if these beneficial organisms exist in all or only some of us. If we could introduce these bacteria and their respective viruses to those lacking them, a broader population could potentially benefit.”
While further investigation is needed, this discovery is pivotal, given our capacity to modify the gut flora.
Rasmussen concludes, “Gut bacteria are a natural part of the human
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Gut Microbiome and Longevity
