Micronutrient-Driven Interspecies Interaction That Regulates Behavior & Longevity |Dr. Mukhopadhyay

In this talk, Dr. Arnab Mukhopadhyay, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, discusses how organismal aging is regulated by the complex interplay between the host and its commensal microbiota, and the molecular mechanisms that underlie this relationship. The microbiota is a valuable source of vitamin B12, which is crucial for traits such as metabolism, behavior, and longevity. Using the bacterivorous nematode C. elegans as a model, Dr. Mukhopadhyay explains how vitamin B12-driven interspecies relationships influence gene expression and cellular signaling. In nature, worms encounter bacteria with varying micronutrient compositions and typically adapt to maintain normal lifespan through host gene–guided metabolic adjustments. In laboratory settings, however, genetic mutants often display distinct phenotypes on different bacterial diets. One such key diet–gene interaction involves a host protein kinase gene and vitamin B12 supplied by bacteria. This talk shares current insights into how micronutrient-mediated communication between two species modulates both behavior and longevity. 🔔 Subscribe and stay tuned — more sessions from RISE 2025 coming soon! More: Longevity India: https://www.longevity.iisc.ac.in/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/longevity-india-iisc/