BMC Biology (Jul 2012)

Folate status of gut microbiome affects <it>Caenorhabditis elegans </it>lifespan

  • Nguyen Theresa PT,
  • Clarke Catherine F

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7007-10-66
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
p. 66

Abstract

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Abstract In a paper in BMC Biology Virk et al. show that Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan is extended in response to a diet of folate-deficient Escherichia coli. The deficiencies in folate biosynthesis were due to an aroD mutation, or treatment of E. coli with sulfa drugs, which are mimics of the folate precursor para-aminobenzoic acid. This study suggests that pharmacological manipulation of the gut microbiome folate status may be a viable approach to slow animal aging, and raises questions about folate supplementation. See research article http://www.http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/10/67