Incorporating functional trade-offs into studies of the gut microbiota

• Published in: Current opinion in microbiology Vol. 50; pp. 20 - 27
• Main Authors: Reese, Aspen T, Kearney, Sean M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2019
• ISSN: 1369-5274; 1879-0364
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2019.09.003

Trade-offs constrain evolution through genetic linkages and environmental limitations, impacting organismal physiology, morphology, and behavior. They are likely to also play a role in modulating functions of the microbiota, but previous research has not included tests of trade-off theory. Here, we review broadly how gut microbial functions are typically studied and outline evolutionarily-informed mechanisms to improve such research. These include measuring a diverse set of functions, with a focus on changes in host phenotype; more explicitly articulating the selective forces relevant to the microbiota; and using functionally relevant models. We present dietary intervention as a case study where trade-offs are likely to be relevant and discuss how the health effects of the modern human diet could be better understood in light of trade-offs. Appreciating microbial functional trade-offs as well as host trade-offs will be necessary to design effective interventions targeting the microbiota and, more generally, to understand the evolution of host-microbe interactions.