Scientists from the University of Vienna have discovered hidden populations within common gut bacteria species, linked to aging, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. The study, published in Nature, found that some bacterial populations can spread between people and across continents, with rapid international expansion observed in just a few decades. Researchers used an analytical strategy called "reverse ecology" to identify these distinct evolutionary lineages, which are often hidden when studying bacteria by species or broad genetic similarity. This new approach could change how scientists study the links between the gut microbiome and disease.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
The human gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that together form the gut microbiome.
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that → form → microbiome
These microbes play important roles in digestion, immune function and metabolism.
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microbes → play → digestion
Now, researchers led by the University of Vienna have found that common gut bacteria may be more complex and more transmissible than previously thought.
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bacteria → lead → Vienna
The study found hidden populations within several common bacterial species.
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study → find → species
Some of these populations were associated with advanced age, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and type 2 diabetes.
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Some → associate → age
The researchers also found evidence that some bacterial populations can spread between people and across continents, Science Daily reported.
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Daily → find → continents
In some cases, these bacterial populations appear to have expanded across continents within only a few decades.
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populations → appear → decades
Such rapid international spread has mainly been observed in pathogens in earlier research.
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spread → observe → research
The new findings suggest that ordinary gut bacteria can also move between populations and establish themselves in new environments.
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bacteria → suggest → environments
The study, published in Nature, could change how scientists study links between the gut microbiome and disease.
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scientists → publish → microbiome
Instead of looking at an entire bacterial species as one group, researchers may be able to identify smaller populations that have adapted to specific conditions inside the gut.
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that → look → gut
Looking Beyond Bacterial Species
Most microbiome studies group bacteria by species or broad genetic similarity.
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studies → look → species
While this approach is useful, it can hide differences between bacterial populations that have adapted to different conditions inside the human gut.
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that → hide → gut
As a result, it can be difficult to establish whether a particular bacterium is directly linked to a disease, is simply present at the same time, or could have a protective effect.
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bacterium → establish → effect
The University of Vienna team therefore looked for bacterial groups that showed signs of adaptation and specialisation.
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that → look → adaptation
The researchers used an analytical strategy called “reverse ecology”.
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researchers → use → strategy
This approach uses genomic information to understand how organisms have adapted to particular environments.
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organisms → use → environments
The team examined thousands of bacterial isolates collected from the human gut, along with large amounts of metagenomic data from people in different countries and from different age and health groups.
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team → examine → groups
Metagenomic data contains the complete genetic information of microbial communities found in a sample.
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data → contain → sample
Genetic Clues Reveal Hidden Populations
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Clues → reveal → Populations
One important clue came from what scientists call “genome-wide selective sweeps”.
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scientists → come → what
This happens when an individual develops a beneficial mutation that gives it an advantage over closely related individuals.
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that → happen → individuals
As the successful individual and its descendants become dominant, genetic diversity within that population falls.
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diversity → become → population
This can help researchers identify groups that are closely related in ancestry and biological function.
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that → help → ancestry
Using these signals, the researchers found that many familiar gut bacterial species could actually be divided into several distinct evolutionary lineages.
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species → use → lineages
These populations appear to be adapted to different conditions within the gut.
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populations → appear → gut
“If you don't just count species but take evolutionary adaptation into account, you can identify the biologically relevant units in the microbiome much more accurately,” said lead author Xiaoqian Annie Yu of the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS), University of Vienna.
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Yu → count → Vienna
“Even within the same bacterial species, some populations occur more frequently than others in certain diseases.
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populations → occur → diseases
When all are considered together, this often remains hidden.
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this → consider → ?
”
Some Gut Bacteria Can Spread Internationally
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Bacteria → spread → ?
The researchers also found evidence that some particularly competitive bacterial populations can spread over large geographic distances.
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populations → find → distances
In some cases, they appear to have expanded across continents within just a few decades.
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they → appear → decades
The finding is notable because patterns of such rapid spread have previously been seen mainly among pathogens.
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patterns → see → pathogens
The study suggests that gut bacteria that are not necessarily pathogens can also move between people and populations.
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that → suggest → people
“Our findings show that gut bacteria are also more dynamic than previously thought.
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bacteria → show → ?
Well-adapted strains can spread internationally and occupy new ecological niches,” said study leader Martin F. Polz of the University of Vienna.
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Polz → adapt → Vienna
The findings also indicate that the composition of the gut microbiome may be influenced by more than diet, medication and lifestyle.
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composition → indicate → diet
Transmission between people could also play a role in determining which bacterial populations become established and spread.
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populations → play → role
Could This Improve Microbiome-Based Treatment?
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This → improve → Treatment
The discovery may help researchers make more precise connections between gut bacteria and disease.
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researchers → help → bacteria
…and 7 more, not listed.
