will take place on Tuesday, April 15st, 2025 from 15:30 to 16:30 hours in CBBM Building, Ground Floor, Seminar Room Levi-Montalcini.
Host: Prof. Henrik Oster
Institute of Neurobiology
Abstract: Circadian (24-hour) clocks regulate metabolism, immunity, and the gut microbiota. Westernized lifestyles—including artificial light exposure, night-time eating, and low fiber intake—lead to circadian misalignment, increasing the risk of metabolic disorders such as Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
In a human cohort of over 4,000 participants, we identified robust microbial rhythms in healthy individuals, which were lost in prediabetes and T2D. Strikingly, this arrhythmic microbiota signature predicted T2D risk. Using mouse models, we established a functional link between the gut clock, diet, and microbial rhythms. Moreover we demonstrated that eating time and macronutrient composition influence microbiota oscillations and directly impact host metabolism. Fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) experiments further revealed that disrupted microbial rhythms can drive obesity.
In an IBD-relevant mouse model, we showed that intestinal clock dysfunction disrupts microbial oscillations, immune responses and accelerates IBD-like colitis. Remarkably, time-restricted feeding restored intestinal clock function, synchronized microbial oscillations, significantly enhanced survival, and reversed colitis-associated pathology. These findings establish the intestinal clock and microbial rhythms as key regulators of gastrointestinal homeostasis and disease progression.
By integrating human and animal models, our research provides critical insights into the interplay between diet, circadian regulation, and microbiota function, highlighting dietary intervention as a promising, non-invasive therapeutic strategy. Restoring microbial oscillations may pave the way for novel circadian therapies targeting IBD and metabolic diseases.
Additionally, we identified endogenously rhythmic bacteria in culture, challenging the view that microbial rhythms are solely host-driven and opening new avenues for microbiota-targeted therapies.
