Modeling diet-gut microbiome interactions and prebiotic responses in Thai adults.

Community-scale metabolic models (CSMMs) were successfully developed and simulated for healthy Thai adults using metagenomic data integrated with national dietary survey data.

• The pipeline integrates genome-scale metabolic models (GSMMs) with Thai dietary intake data derived from national surveys.
• Models were developed for healthy Thai adults using metagenomic data.
• Simulations were performed under both typical dietary and prebiotic-supplemented conditions.
• Flux variability analysis (FVA) was employed to assess metabolic capacities and SCFA production in relation to microbial taxonomy.

Inter-individual variability in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles was observed across the Thai adult gut microbiome models.

• The results 'promisingly revealed inter-individual variability in SCFA profiles' among the simulated community-scale metabolic models.
• SCFA production was analyzed in relation to microbial taxonomy across individuals.
• Flux variability analysis was the primary analytical tool used to detect this variability.

Bacteroides and Phocaeicola were notably linked to isobutyrate production in the gut microbiome models.

• Bacteroides and Phocaeicola were specifically identified as taxa associated with isobutyrate production.
• This association was identified through flux variability analysis of the community-scale metabolic models.
• Isobutyrate is a branched-chain short-chain fatty acid produced from amino acid fermentation.

Bifidobacterium emerged as a key microbial responder to prebiotic supplementation in the simulated models.

• Bifidobacterium was specifically identified as a 'key responder to prebiotic supplementation' in the simulation results.
• Prebiotic-supplemented conditions were simulated in addition to typical dietary conditions.
• This finding aligns with the known role of Bifidobacterium as a prebiotic-responsive taxon in the gut.

The integrative systems biology framework provides a foundation for developing precision nutrition strategies tailored to the Thai population.

• The pipeline integrates genome-scale metabolic models with population-specific dietary intake data.
• The framework 'offers biological insights into diet-gut microbiome interactions.'
• The authors propose this approach as a basis for 'microbiome-based health interventions' and 'precision nutrition strategies tailored to the Thai population.'