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Explores gut microbiota interactions with oxygen levels, highlighting implications for health.
Oxygen homeostasis is a key ecological factor shaping microbial composition, epithelial function, and immune balance in the gut. Spatial and developmental oxygen gradients drive the transition from facultative to obligate anaerobes. Gut hypoxia is maintained by epithelial oxygen consumption and microbial metabolism, forming a positive feedback loop that supports barrier integrity and immune homeostasis. Disruption by inflammation, antibiotics, or diet elevates oxygen availability, promoting dysbiosis, pathogen expansion, and disease risk.
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Yang et al. (2026) studied this question.
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