Effects of isolation and confinement on gastrointestinal microbiota–a systematic review

• Published in: Frontiers in Nutrition
• Main Authors: Klos, Bea, Steinbach, Christina, Ketel, Jasmin, Lambert, Claude, Penders, John, Doré, Joël, Enck, Paul, Mack, Isabelle
• Other Authors: Laboratoire Georges Friedel (LGF-ENSMSE), École des Mines de Saint-Étienne (Mines Saint-Étienne MSE), Institut Mines-Télécom Paris (IMT)-Institut Mines-Télécom Paris (IMT)-Université de Lyon-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), Maastricht University Maastricht, MICrobiologie de l'ALImentation au Service de la Santé (MICALIS), AgroParisTech-Université Paris-Saclay-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen = University of Tübingen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2023
• Subjects: [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]; Prisma; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04565248; https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1214016

International audience Purpose The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota is a complex and dynamic ecosystem whose composition and function are influenced by many internal and external factors. Overall, the individual GI microbiota composition appears to be rather stable but can be influenced by extreme shifts in environmental exposures. To date, there is no systematic literature review that examines the effects of extreme environmental conditions, such as strict isolation and confinement, on the GI microbiota. Methods We conducted a systematic review to examine the effects of isolated and confined environments on the human GI microbiota. The literature search was conducted according to PRISMA criteria using PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. Relevant studies were identified based on exposure to isolated and confined environments, generally being also antigen-limited, for a minimum of 28 days and classified according to the microbiota analysis method (cultivation- or molecular based approaches) and the isolation habitat (space, space- or microgravity simulation such as MARS-500 or natural isolation such as Antarctica). Microbial shifts in abundance, alpha diversity and community structure in response to isolation were assessed. Results Regardless of the study habitat, inconsistent shifts in abundance of 40 different genera, mainly in the phylum Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) were reported. Overall, the heterogeneity of studies was high. Reducing heterogeneity was neither possible by differentiating the microbiota analysis methods nor by subgrouping according to the isolation habitat. Alpha diversity evolved non-specifically, whereas the microbial community structure remained dissimilar despite partial convergence. The GI ecosystem returned to baseline levels following exposure, showing resilience irrespective of the experiment length. Conclusion An isolated and confined environment has a considerable impact on the GI microbiota composition in terms of diversity and relative abundances of dominant taxa. ...