Human gut bacteria show 124 genome-wide selective sweeps
Updated
Updated · Nature.com · May 6
Human gut bacteria show 124 genome-wide selective sweeps
9 articles · Updated · Nature.com · May 6
Yu, Strachan, Herbold and colleagues found the sweeps across 66 bacterial taxa from 25 families, using 16,864 isolate genomes and 1,477 metagenomes.
The study says many sweep clusters spread across continents within decades and are associated with age, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and type 2 diabetes.
The findings suggest gut bacterial species contain ecologically distinct populations beyond standard species labels, offering a framework for sharper microbiome diagnostics, experimental models and synthetic community design.
If crucial gut bacteria spread globally like germs, how can we control our exposure to prevent chronic diseases?
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Genome-Wide Selective Sweeps Reveal Rapid Evolution and Global Spread of Distinct Gut Bacterial Populations
Overview
A 2026 study by University of Vienna researchers revealed that 66 common gut bacterial species contain 124 distinct evolutionary clusters shaped by genome-wide selective sweeps (GWSS). These clusters represent bacterial populations adapted to specific gut niches and can rapidly spread globally through transmission between people. Alongside gene-specific sweeps adapting bacteria to diet, these evolutionary processes influence health by linking certain bacterial populations to diseases like colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and aging-related inflammation. Lifestyle factors, especially diet, drive these microbial changes, highlighting the need for personalized diagnostics and targeted therapies. Advances in precision medicine, including nanomaterial delivery and AI-driven monitoring, promise improved interventions, though challenges in validation, safety, and equity remain.