BIOS · Sep 30, 2026
Effect of microbial diversity on glucose metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans
By Wingert MN, Wohl D
Diets high in glucose are associated with metabolic dysfunction, acceleration of aging, and increased risk for obesity and diabetes. Glucose has been shown to detrimentally effect the physiology of Caenorhabditis elegans through decreases in lifespan. The gut microbiome has an important role in host physiology, yet in most laboratory settings C. elegans are fed a monoculture of Escherichia coli. This diet does not reflect the diverse microbial community present in their natural environment. This study investigated whether a microbiome of 12 bacterial species native to the C. elegans natural diet can protect against the detrimental effects of elevated glucose levels. Worms were maintained on NGM plates containing varying concentrations of glucose (0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0%) and either a standard OP50 E. coli diet or the diverse 12-species community (CeMbio). Growth, longevity, and reproductive output assays were conducted to evaluate physiological changes. High glucose concentrations significantly reduced worm growth, lifespan, and reproductive output compared to the control (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Worms fed with the diverse microbial community had an increase in growth, lifespan, and reproductive output relative to the control (p < 0.001). Using molecular analyses, differences in bacterial composition were observed across the different glucose concentrations suggesting shifts in species composition, which can contribute to the changes observed in worm growth, lifespan, and reproduction. The results suggest that microbiome diversity may protect against the negative impacts of glucose in C. elegans, which emphasizes the importance of host-microbe interactions in overall health.