Hidden gut bacteria populations linked to ageing, cancer and type 2 diabetes may spread worldwide

The study, published in Nature, could also change how scientists identify links between gut bacteria and disease.​ The human gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that together form the gut microbiome. These microbes play important roles in digestion, immune function and metabolism. Now, researchers led by the University of Vienna have found that common gut bacteria may be more complex and more transmissible than previously thought.The study found hidden populations within several common bacterial species. Some of these populations were associated with advanced age, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and type 2 diabetes. The researchers also found evidence that some bacterial populations can spread between people and across continents, Science Daily reported.In some cases, these bacterial populations appear to have expanded across continents within only a few decades. Such rapid international spread has mainly been observed in pathogens in earlier research. The new findings suggest that ordinary gut bacteria can also move between populations and establish themselves in new environments.The study, published in Nature, could change how scientists study links bet...