Identification of fecal microbiome signatures associated with longevity through 16S rRNA sequencing in different age groups in China.

Long-lived individuals had greater gut microbiota diversity than typical older individuals, with diversity comparable to younger adults.

• Study performed 16S rRNA sequencing on 301 fecal samples across three age groups: long-lived individuals (≥90 years), typical older individuals (60-89 years), and younger adults (45-59 years).
• Long-lived individuals (≥90 years) showed diversity metrics comparable to younger adults (45-59 years).
• Diversity in long-lived individuals exceeded that observed in typical older individuals (60-89 years).

Long-lived individuals exhibited a marked increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroidota and Akkermansia compared with typical older individuals.

• Comparison was made between long-lived individuals (≥90 years) and typical older individuals (60-89 years).
• Both Bacteroidota (phylum level) and Akkermansia (genus level) were enriched in long-lived individuals.
• These changes in relative abundance were identified through 16S rRNA sequencing of 301 fecal samples.

Long-lived individuals exhibited decreased abundance of Prevotella_9 and Megamonas compared with typical older individuals.

• Prevotella_9 and Megamonas were identified as differentially abundant taxa with lower relative abundance in long-lived individuals (≥90 years) versus typical older individuals (60-89 years).
• These taxa were among the differentially abundant microbiota targeted by the developed qPCR-based detection method.
• The findings were derived from 16S rRNA sequencing analysis of fecal samples.

The gut microbiota of long-lived individuals showed significant functional enrichment in unsaturated fatty acid metabolism, ketone body synthesis and degradation, and tryptophan metabolism.

• Functional differences were identified through analysis of microbiota composition data from the three age groups.
• Three metabolic pathways were specifically highlighted: unsaturated fatty acid metabolism, ketone body synthesis and degradation, and tryptophan metabolism.
• Authors suggest these differences in microbiota composition and function 'may contribute to longevity.'

A qPCR-based method was developed to detect differentially abundant microbiota and a classification model was established to distinguish between age groups.

• The qPCR-based method was designed to detect the differentially abundant microbiota identified through 16S rRNA sequencing.
• A classification model was built capable of distinguishing between the three age groups (45-59 years, 60-89 years, and ≥90 years).
• The method was based on differentially abundant taxa identified in the 301 fecal sample dataset.