A RECENT study identified specific bacterial strains and viruses that can cause changes in the gut microbiome, potentially increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes. The study analysed data from the Microbiome and Cardiometabolic Disease Consortium, which included over 8,000 participants from diverse ethnic and geographic backgrounds.
The study found that certain strains of the gut bacterium Prevotella corpi were prevalent in people with type 2 diabetes. These strains can produce high levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which are linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. This discovery underlines the important role of specific microbial strains in contributing to diabetes risk. Researchers also uncovered evidence suggesting that bacteriophages may influence the functionality of bacterial strains in the gut microbiome, further driving the risk of type 2 diabetes. This is a significant finding as it explores the role that bacteriophages play in chronic diseases, an area previously focused mainly on infectious diseases.
These results pave the way for future research, to explore how modifying the gut microbiome can potentially reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. The researchers plan to further investigate the role of bacteriophages and horizontal gene transfers in gut bacteria, as well as their implications for modifying inflammation response and insulin resistance.
This study emphasises the importance of investigating the complex relationship between the gut microbiome and type 2 diabetes. By identifying specific bacterial strains and viruses linked to diabetes risk, researchers have opened new possibilities for targeted interventions to modulate the gut microbiome and reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference:
Mei Z et al. Strain-specific gut microbial signatures in type 2 diabetes identified in a cross-cohort analysis of 8,117 metagenomes. Nat Med. 2024.
