Ecological and Genomic Variation of the Gut Microbiome in Gastrointestinal Compromised Human Cohort Across Different Ages

The human gut microbiota, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms, is intricately linked to health and aging. While numerous studies have explored age-related changes in the gut microbiome of healthy individuals, the impact of aging on this microbial community in individuals with pre-existing gastrointestinal conditions remains largely uncharted. This study aimed to investigate how aging affects the ecological and genetic characteristics of the gut microbiome in individuals with gastrointestinal disorders. Using an in-house bioinformatic pipeline PanOmiQ, we analyzed fecal samples from 54 individuals with gastrointestinal conditions and compared them to a healthy control group. Our results revealed significant ecological differences between age groups and healthy controls, particularly in alpha and beta diversity and relative abundance at the phylum level. However, we found no clear evidence of age-related genetic variation within microbial species. These findings underscore the unique ecological dynamics of the gut microbiome in individuals with gastrointestinal disorders and suggest that aging may play a role in shaping the composition of specific microbial groups, such as Proteobacteria and Archaea. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific functions of these microbial groups in the aging gut and to explore potential therapeutic interventions for improving gut health in gastrointestinal-compromised individuals.