00:00Scientists say your gut microbiome may be more contagious than previously thought.
00:04Researchers at the University of Vienna studied thousands of gut bacteria samples.
00:09They also analyzed genetic data from people across different countries.
00:13The team found that familiar bacterial species can contain distinct lineages.
00:18These groups appear to adapt to specific conditions inside the human gut.
00:22Some were linked to diseases including inflammatory bowel disease.
00:26Others were associated with colorectal cancer and type 2 diabetes.
00:30But researchers made another surprising discovery.
00:33Some highly adapted gut bacteria appear capable of spreading between people.
00:37In certain cases, they may have crossed continents within just a few decades.
00:42Until now, this kind of rapid spread was mainly associated with pathogens.
00:47The findings suggest the microbiome is shaped by more than diet and medication.
00:51Person-to-person transmission may also play an important role.
00:54Scientists say the discovery could improve future disease biomarkers.
00:59It may also help researchers develop more precise microbiome-based treatments.
01:03The team will next investigate which genes make these bacterial populations different.
01:08Disclosure.
01:09This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
