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Microbiome composition varies based on sampling time, mouse study finds
In a new study, scientists report that in some mice microbiome studies, the composition of bacteria detected may vary dramatically depending on when samples were taken.
Zarrinpar’s team theorized that a mouse’s circadian rhythm — primarily measured by behavioral cues, such as when mice are eating, active, and sleeping — changes the composition and amount of bacteria present. Food, especially, can impact the microbial communities that flourish in the gut, said Molly Bray, a circadian rhythm researcher at the University of Texas at Austin who was not involved in the study. “The best way to document the effects of circadian variability, especially in terms of the gut microbiome, is to collect multiple samples over the course of the day and to analyze the data as a whole, not just by time point,” said Bray in an email to STAT.
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