Proof-of-Principle Demonstration of Endogenous Circadian System and Circadian Misalignment Effects on Human Oral Microbiota

Dr. Frank Scheer, from Harvard Medical School, USA will be discussing his most recent findings on ''Proof-of-principle demonstration of endogenous circadian system and circadian misalignment effects on human oral microbiota''.

Shift workers are at increased risk for the development of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Scheer and colleagues have shown under highly-controlled human experimental protocols that circadian misalignment—the misalignment between the endogenous circadian system and the sleep/wake cycle—results in increases in inflammatory markers, elevated blood pressure, changes in hunger/appetite control, and impaired glucose tolerance; both in non-shift workers and in real-life shift workers. 

Since microbiota can play a key role in metabolism and inflammation, Dr. Scheer aimed to determine whether human oral microbiota (suitable for non-invasive and frequent repeat sampling): (1) express endogenous circadian rhythms (i.e., independent of sleep, eating, physical activity, and environmental light rhythms); and (2) are impacted by circadian misalignment.

In a proof-of-concept study, using highly-controlled 14-day in-laboratory experimental circadian studies, Dr. Scheer found that one of five dominant phyla and three of fourteen dominant genera exhibited endogenous circadian rhythms. Importantly, he found that four of the five dominant phyla and eight of the fourteen dominant genera were impacted by circadian misalignment. Furthermore, inferred gene content analysis indicated changes in specific functional pathways associated with metabolic control and immunity.

These findings may have relevance for the millions of shift workers, jet travelers, as well as the broader population when we change the timing of our sleep/wake cycles.

Additonal microbiota topics will be introduced during the Targeting Microbiota 2022 Congress, held this October - in Paris.

Targeting Microbiota 2022 Congress
October 19-21, 2022 - Paris, France
www.microbiota-site.com