Circadian rhythm misalignment due to social jet lag, shift work, early morning starts, and delayed bedtimes is becoming common in our modern society. Disturbances of sleep and the underlying circadian rhythms are related to multiple human diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and cognitive impairments. Given the crucial role of microbiota in the same pathologies as are caused by sleep disturbance, how the gut microbiota is affected by sleep is of increasing interest. The results of this study indicate that the acute circadian rhythm disturbance caused by sleep-wake shifts affect the human gut microbiota, especially the functional profiles of gut microbes and interactions among them. Further experiments with a longer-time-scale intervention and larger sample size are needed to assess the effects of chronic circadian rhythm disruption on the gut microbiome and to guide possible microbial therapies for clinical intervention in the related diseases.

Acute Sleep-Wake Cycle Shift Results in Community Alteration of Human Gut Microbiome

State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

Department of Pathogen-Microbiology Division, Key Laboratory of Pathogen of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yixing People’s Hospital, Jiangsu University, Wuxi, China

Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China