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Bambi M, Galla G, Donati C, Rovero F, Hauffe HC, Barelli C. Gut microbiota variations in wild yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) are associated with sex and habitat disturbance. Sci Rep 2024; 14:869. [PMID: 38195759 PMCID: PMC10776872 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50126-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Although male and female mammals differ in biological traits and functional needs, the contribution of this sexual dimorphism to variations in gut bacteria and fungi (gut microbiota) in relation to habitat type has not been fully examined. To understand whether the combination of sex and habitat affects gut microbiota variation, we analyzed 40 fecal samples of wild yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) living in contrasting habitat types (intact, well-protected vs. fragmented, less protected forests) in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania. Sex determination was performed using the marker genes SRY (Sex-determining Region Y) and DDX3X-DDX3Y (DEAD-Box Helicase 3). Samples were attributed to 34 individuals (19 females and 15 males) belonging to five social groups. Combining the results of sex determination with two amplicon sequencing datasets on bacterial (V1-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene) and fungal (ITS2) gut communities, we found that overall, baboon females had a significantly higher gut bacterial richness compared to males. Beta diversity estimates indicated that bacterial composition was significantly different between males and females, and this was true for individuals from both well- and less protected forests. Our results highlight the combined role of sex and habitat type in shaping variation in gut microbial communities in wild non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Bambi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Conservation Genomics Research Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Giulio Galla
- Conservation Genomics Research Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Claudio Donati
- Computational Biology Research Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Francesco Rovero
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Heidi C Hauffe
- Conservation Genomics Research Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Claudia Barelli
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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Lapid R, Motro Y, Craddock H, Khalfin B, King R, Bar-Gal GK, Moran-Gilad J. Fecal microbiota of the synanthropic golden jackal (Canis aureus). Anim Microbiome 2023; 5:37. [PMID: 37542305 PMCID: PMC10403885 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-023-00259-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The golden jackal (Canis aureus), is a medium canid carnivore widespread throughout the Mediterranean region and expanding into Europe. This species thrives near human settlements and is implicated in zoonoses such as rabies. This study explores for the first time, the golden jackal fecal microbiota. We analyzed 111 fecal samples of wild golden jackals using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing the connection of the microbiome to animal characteristics, burden of pathogens and geographic and climate characteristics. We further compared the fecal microbiota of the golden jackal to the black-backed jackal and domestic dog. We found that the golden jackal fecal microbiota is dominated by the phyla Bacteroidota, Fusobacteriota and Firmicutes. The golden jackal fecal microbiota was associated with different variables, including geographic region, age-class, exposure to rabies oral vaccine, fecal parasites and toxoplasmosis. A remarkable variation in the relative abundance of different taxa was also found associated with different variables, such as age-class. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis found abundance of specific taxons in each region, Megasphaera genus in group 1, Megamonas genus in group 2 and Bacteroides coprocola species in group 3. We also found a different composition between the fecal microbiota of the golden jackal, blacked-backed jackal and the domestic dog. Furthermore, LEfSe analysis found abundance of Fusobacterium and Bacteroides genera in the golden jackal, Clostridia class in blacked-backed jackal and Megamonas genus in domestic dog. The golden jackal fecal microbiota is influenced by multiple factors including host traits and pathogen burden. The characterization of the microbiota of this thriving species may aid in mapping its spread and proximity to human settlements. Moreover, understanding the jackal microbiota could inform the study of potential animal and human health risks and inform control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roi Lapid
- The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O.B. 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yair Motro
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Hillary Craddock
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Boris Khalfin
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Roni King
- Science and Conservation Division, Israel Nature and Parks Authority, 3 Am Ve'Olamo St., 95463, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Gila Kahila Bar-Gal
- The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O.B. 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jacob Moran-Gilad
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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Jiang XR, Dai YY, Wang YR, Guo K, Du Y, Gao JF, Lin LH, Li P, Li H, Ji X, Qu YF. Dietary and Sexual Correlates of Gut Microbiota in the Japanese Gecko, Gekko japonicus (Schlegel, 1836). Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13081365. [PMID: 37106928 PMCID: PMC10134999 DOI: 10.3390/ani13081365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have demonstrated that multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors shape the structure and composition of gut microbiota in a host. The disorder of the gut microbiota may trigger various host diseases. Here, we collected fecal samples from wild-caught Japanese geckos (Gekko japonicus) and captive conspecifics fed with mealworms (mealworm-fed geckos) and fruit flies (fly-fed geckos), aiming to examine the dietary and sexual correlates of the gut microbiota. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology to determine the composition of the gut microbiota. The dominant phyla with a mean relative abundance higher than 10% were Verrucomicrobiota, Bacteroidota, and Firmicutes. Gut microbial community richness and diversity were higher in mealworm-fed geckos than in wild geckos. Neither community evenness nor beta diversity of gut microbiota differed among wild, mealworm-fed, and fly-fed geckos. The beta rather than alpha diversity of gut microbiota was sex dependent. Based on the relative abundance of gut bacteria and their gene functions, we concluded that gut microbiota contributed more significantly to the host's metabolic and immune functions. A higher diversity of gut microbiota in mealworm-fed geckos could result from higher chitin content in insects of the order Coleoptera. This study not only provides basic information about the gut microbiota of G. japonicus but also shows that gut microbiota correlates with dietary habits and sex in the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Ru Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ying-Yu Dai
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yu-Rong Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Kun Guo
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yu Du
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Herpetological Research, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 572022, China
| | - Jian-Fang Gao
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Long-Hui Lin
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Peng Li
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hong Li
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiang Ji
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yan-Fu Qu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
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4
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Xing W, Gao W, Lv X, Zhao Z, Mao G, Dong X, Zhang Z. The effects of supplementation of probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics on patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Nutr 2022; 9:1024678. [PMID: 36386939 PMCID: PMC9640999 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1024678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease. Research on the efficacy of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on NAFLD patients continues to be inconsistent. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of these microbial therapies on NAFLD. METHODS Eligible randomized-controlled trials reporting the effect of probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics in NAFLD were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Google scholar, and CNKI databases from 2020 to Jul 2022. The changes in the outcomes were analyzed using standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with a random- or fixed-effects model to examine the effect of microbial therapies. Subgroup analysis, influence and publication bias analysis were also performed. The quality of the eligible studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. RESULTS Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria involving 741 individuals. Microbial therapies could improve liver steatosis, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMAI-R) (all P < 0.05). But microbial therapies could not ameliorate body mass index (BMI), energy, carbohydrate, fat intake, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and hepatic fibrosis of patients with NAFLD. CONCLUSION Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics supplementation can potentially improve liver enzymes, lipid profiles, and liver steatosis in patients with NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenmin Xing
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Department of Geriatrics, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenyan Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoling Lv
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Department of Geriatrics, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhenlei Zhao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Department of Geriatrics, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Genxiang Mao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Department of Geriatrics, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Dong
- College of Pharmacy and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huaian, China
| | - Zuyong Zhang
- The Third People’s Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou, China
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5
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Zhang Q, Xing W, Wang Q, Tang Z, Wang Y, Gao W. Gut microbiota–mitochondrial inter-talk in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Front Nutr 2022; 9:934113. [PMID: 36204383 PMCID: PMC9530335 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.934113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is a progressive disease, has exerted huge a healthcare burden worldwide. New investigations have suggested that the gut microbiota closely participates in the progression of NAFLD through the gut–liver axis or gut–brain–liver axis. The composition of the microbiota can be altered by multiple factors, primarily dietary style, nutritional supplements, or exercise. Recent evidence has revealed that gut microbiota is involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in the liver by regulating crucial transcription factors, enzymes, or genes. Moreover, microbiota metabolites can also affect mitochondrial oxidative stress function and swallow formation, subsequently controlling the inflammatory response and regulating the levels of inflammatory cytokines, which are the predominant regulators of NAFLD. This review focuses on the changes in the composition of the gut microbiota and metabolites as well as the cross-talk between gut microbiota and mitochondrial function. We thus aim to comprehensively explore the potential mechanisms of gut microbiota in NAFLD and potential therapeutic strategies targeting NAFLD management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenmin Xing
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Geriatrics, Department of Geriatrics, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhan Tang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yazhen Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Geriatrics, Department of Geriatrics, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenyan Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Wenyan Gao,
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Yan R, Lu M, Zhang L, Yao J, Li S, Jiang Y. Effect of sex on the gut microbiota characteristics of passerine migratory birds. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:917373. [PMID: 36118231 PMCID: PMC9478027 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.917373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota, considered the “invisible organ” in the host animal, has been extensively studied recently. However, knowledge about the gut microbiota characteristics of passerine migratory birds during migration is limited. This study investigated the gut microbiota characteristics of three dominant migratory bird species (namely orange-flanked bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus, yellow-throated bunting Emberiza elegans, and black-faced bunting Emberiza spodocephala) in the same niche during spring migration and whether they were bird sex-specific. The compositions of gut microbiota species in these three migratory bird species and their male and female individuals were found to be similar. The main bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, and the main genera were Lactobacillus, Acinetobacter, Rickettsiella, and Mycobacterium; however, their relative abundance was different. Moreover, some potential pathogens and beneficial bacteria were found in all the three bird species. Alpha diversity analysis showed that in T. cyanurus, the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota were higher in male individuals than in female individuals, while the opposite was true for E. elegans and E. spodocephala. The alpha diversity analysis showed significant differences between male and female individuals of E. elegans (p < 0.05). The beta diversity analysis also revealed that the gut microbial community structure differed significantly between the male and female individuals of the three migratory bird species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongfei Yan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Meixia Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Lishi Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiyuan Yao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Shi Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Yunlei Jiang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Yunlei Jiang,
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7
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Pinacho-Guendulain B, Montiel-Castro AJ, Ramos-Fernández G, Pacheco-López G. Social complexity as a driving force of gut microbiota exchange among conspecific hosts in non-human primates. Front Integr Neurosci 2022; 16:876849. [PMID: 36110388 PMCID: PMC9468716 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2022.876849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergent concept of the social microbiome implies a view of a highly connected biological world, in which microbial interchange across organisms may be influenced by social and ecological connections occurring at different levels of biological organization. We explore this idea reviewing evidence of whether increasing social complexity in primate societies is associated with both higher diversity and greater similarity in the composition of the gut microbiota. By proposing a series of predictions regarding such relationship, we evaluate the existence of a link between gut microbiota and primate social behavior. Overall, we find that enough empirical evidence already supports these predictions. Nonetheless, we conclude that studies with the necessary, sufficient, explicit, and available evidence are still scarce. Therefore, we reflect on the benefit of founding future analyses on the utility of social complexity as a theoretical framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Braulio Pinacho-Guendulain
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Augusto Jacobo Montiel-Castro
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), Lerma, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Augusto Jacobo Montiel-Castro,
| | - Gabriel Ramos-Fernández
- Institute for Research on Applied Mathematics and Systems (IIMAS), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
- Center for Complexity Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gustavo Pacheco-López
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), Lerma, Mexico
- Gustavo Pacheco-López,
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8
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Li Y, Bi Y, Yang L, Jin K. Comparative study on intestinal microbiome composition and function in young and adult Hainan gibbons ( Nomascus hainanus). PeerJ 2022; 10:e13527. [PMID: 35698614 PMCID: PMC9188309 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hainan gibbon is one of the most endangered primates in the world, with a small population size, narrow distribution range, and high inbreeding risk, which retains the risk of species extinction. To explore the composition and functional differences of the intestinal microbiome of Hainan gibbons at different ages, the faecal microbiomes of young and adult Hainan gibbons were analysed using metagenome sequencing. The results showed that the dominant phyla in the intestinal tract of young and adult Hainan gibbons were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, and the dominant genus was Prevotella. Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis showed that Firmicutes, Ruminococcus, Clostridium, and Butyrivibrio were significantly more abundant in adults than in young, whereas Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Prevotella, and Bacteroides were significantly more abundant in young than in adults. In terms of gene function, the adult Hainan gibbon intestinal microbiome generally harboured a higher abundance of genes related to metabolic processes, such as carbohydrate, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolism. This may be due to adaptive advantages for adult Hainan gibbons, such as stable and mature intestinal microbiome composition, which allows them to utilise diverse foods efficiently. In summary, this study helps understand the dynamic changes in the intestinal microbiome of young and adult Hainan gibbons and plays a key role in the health monitoring and rejuvenation of their population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimeng Li
- Institute of Forest Ecology-Environment and Nature Conservation, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China,Beijing Museum of Natural History, Beijing, China,Hainan Institute of National Park, Haikou, China
| | - Yu Bi
- Institute of Forest Ecology-Environment and Nature Conservation, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China,Hainan Institute of National Park, Haikou, China,Research Institute of Natural Protected Area, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China,Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, China
| | - Liangliang Yang
- Institute of Forest Ecology-Environment and Nature Conservation, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China,Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Jin
- Institute of Forest Ecology-Environment and Nature Conservation, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China,Hainan Institute of National Park, Haikou, China,Research Institute of Natural Protected Area, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China,Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, China
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9
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Mason B, Petrzelkova KJ, Kreisinger J, Bohm T, Cervena B, Fairet E, Fuh T, Gomez A, Knauf S, Maloueki U, Modry D, Shirley MH, Tagg N, Wangue N, Pafco B. Gastrointestinal symbiont diversity in wild gorilla: a comparison of bacterial and strongylid communities across multiple localities. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:4127-4145. [PMID: 35661299 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are Critically Endangered and show continued population decline. Consequently, pressure mounts to better understand their conservation threats and ecology. Gastrointestinal symbionts, such as bacterial and eukaryotic communities, are believed to play vital roles in the physiological landscape of the host. Gorillas host a broad spectrum of eucaryotes, so called parasites, with strongylid nematodes being particularly prevalent. While these communities are partially consistent, they are also shaped by various ecological factors, such as diet or habitat type. To investigate gastrointestinal symbionts of wild western lowland gorillas, we analysed 215 faecal samples from individuals in five distinct localities across the Congo Basin, using high-throughput sequencing techniques. We describe the gut bacterial microbiome and genetic diversity of strongylid communities, including strain-level identification of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). We identified strongylid ASVs from eight genera and bacterial ASVs from twenty phyla. We compared these communities across localities, with reference to varying environmental factors among populations, finding differences in alpha diversity and community compositions of both gastrointestinal components. Moreover, we also investigated covariation between strongylid nematodes and the bacterial microbiome, finding correlations between strongylid taxa and Prevotellaceae and Rikenellaceae ASVs that were consistent across multiple localities. Our research highlights complexity of the bacterial microbiome and strongylid communities in several gorilla populations and emphasizes potential interactions between these two symbiont communities. This study provides a framework for ongoing research into strongylid nematode diversity, and their interactions with the bacterial microbiome, amongst great apes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethan Mason
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences
| | - Klara J Petrzelkova
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences.,Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences.,Liberec Zoo, Liberec, Czech Republic
| | | | - Torsten Bohm
- African Parks, Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of, Congo
| | | | - Emilie Fairet
- SFM Safari Gabon, Loango National Park, Gabon.,Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Andres Gomez
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota
| | - Sascha Knauf
- Institute of International Animal Health / One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ulrich Maloueki
- African Parks, Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of, Congo
| | - David Modry
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences.,Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources/CINeZ, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
| | - Matthew H Shirley
- SFM Safari Gabon, Loango National Park, Gabon.,Institute of Environment, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Nikki Tagg
- Project Grands Singes, , Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp
| | | | - Barbora Pafco
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences
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10
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Lan LY, You YY, Hong QX, Liu QX, Xu CZ, Chen W, Zhu YD, Du XQ, Fan PF. The gut microbiota of gibbons across host genus and captive site in China. Am J Primatol 2022; 84:e23360. [PMID: 35166397 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Gut microbiota influences nutrient metabolism and immunity of animal hosts. Better understanding of the composition and diversity of gut microbiota contributes to conservation and management of threatened animals both in situ and ex situ. In this study, we applied 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to evaluate the composition and diversity of the fecal bacterial community of four gibbon genera (Family Hylobatidae) at four Chinese zoos. The results showed that the dominant bacterial phyla were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria and dominant families were Prevotellaceae (Bacteroidetes), Spirochaetaceae (Spirochaetes) and Ruminococcaceae (Firmicutes) in the gut of all gibbons. Both captive site and host genus had significant effects on the relative abundance of dominant bacteria and structure of gut bacterial community. We found that captive site and host genus did not solely impact gut bacterial diversity, but the interaction between them did. This study provides basic knowledge for gut microbiota of all four gibbon genera and contributes to management and conservation of captive gibbons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ying Lan
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Yan You
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China
| | - Qi-Xuan Hong
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Chun-Zhong Xu
- Development Co., Ltd., Shanghai Wild Animal Park, Shanghai, China
| | - Wu Chen
- Guangzhou Zoo, Guangzhou, China
| | | | | | - Peng-Fei Fan
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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11
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Rudolph K, Schneider D, Fichtel C, Daniel R, Heistermann M, Kappeler PM. Drivers of gut microbiome variation within and between groups of a wild Malagasy primate. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:28. [PMID: 35139921 PMCID: PMC8827170 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01223-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various aspects of sociality can benefit individuals' health. The host social environment and its relative contributions to the host-microbiome relationship have emerged as key topics in microbial research. Yet, understanding the mechanisms that lead to structural variation in the social microbiome, the collective microbial metacommunity of an animal's social network, remains difficult since multiple processes operate simultaneously within and among animal social networks. Here, we examined the potential drivers of the convergence of the gut microbiome on multiple scales among and within seven neighbouring groups of wild Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi) - a folivorous primate of Madagascar. RESULTS Over four field seasons, we collected 519 faecal samples of 41 animals and determined gut communities via 16S and 18S rRNA gene amplicon analyses. First, we examined whether group members share more similar gut microbiota and if diet, home range overlap, or habitat similarity drive between-group variation in gut communities, accounting for seasonality. Next, we examined within-group variation in gut microbiota by examining the potential effects of social contact rates, male rank, and maternal relatedness. To explore the host intrinsic effects on the gut community structure, we investigated age, sex, faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, and female reproductive state. We found that group members share more similar gut microbiota and differ in alpha diversity, while none of the environmental predictors explained the patterns of between-group variation. Maternal relatedness played an important role in within-group microbial homogeneity and may also explain why adult group members shared the least similar gut microbiota. Also, dominant males differed in their bacterial composition from their group mates, which might be driven by rank-related differences in physiology and scent-marking behaviours. Links to sex, female reproductive state, or faecal glucocorticoid metabolites were not detected. CONCLUSIONS Environmental factors define the general set-up of population-specific gut microbiota, but intrinsic and social factors have a stronger impact on gut microbiome variation in this primate species. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Rudolph
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
- Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
- Leibniz Science Campus "Primate Cognition", Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Dominik Schneider
- Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August University Göttingen, Grisebachstraße 8, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Fichtel
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz Science Campus "Primate Cognition", Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August University Göttingen, Grisebachstraße 8, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Peter M Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz Science Campus "Primate Cognition", Göttingen, Germany
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Li Y, Chen T, Li Y, Tang Y, Huang Z. Gut microbiota are associated with sex and age of host: Evidence from semi-provisioned rhesus macaques in southwest Guangxi, China. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:8096-8122. [PMID: 34188874 PMCID: PMC8216961 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Host characteristics, such as sex and age, are closely associated with the structure and function of gut microbiota; however, less is known about the effects of age and sex on the gut microbiota of nonhuman primates, and therefore, our knowledge of interindividual variability in host gut microbiota is limited. In this study, 153 fecal samples from rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were analyzed using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing in order to explore associations between age and sex of the host and their gut microbiota. The results indicated that female macaques had higher alpha diversity and a more unique gut microbiota than did males. The proportion of Proteobacteria, Tenericutes, Cyanobacteria, unclassified bacteria, and Verrucomicrobia was higher in females than that in males. We also found that adults of both sexes had a higher alpha diversity, a higher proportion of norank Ruminococcaceae, Oscillospira, norank Lachnospiraceae, norank Clostridiales, and Succinivibrio, and a lower proportion of Enterococcus than immatures. Functional analyses revealed that the richness of metabolic pathways was higher in females than males and in adults compared with immatures. These results could be attributed to differences in the nutritional requirements and hormone levels of macaques of different sex and age classes. We conclude that variation in the gut microbiota of different sex and age classes of rhesus macaques may be linked to age- and sex-specific differences in nutrient requirements and hormone levels. These results highlight the importance of host age and sex on the structure and function of the gut microbiota and the need to consider physiological traits when conducting studies on the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhui Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal EcologyGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
- College of Life SciencesGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
| | - Ting Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal EcologyGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
- College of Life SciencesGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
| | - Youbang Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal EcologyGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
- College of Life SciencesGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
| | - Yin Tang
- College of ArtsGuilin University of TechnologyGuilinChina
| | - Zhonghao Huang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal EcologyGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
- College of Life SciencesGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
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13
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Lewis CM, McCall LI, Sharp RR, Spicer PG. Ethical priority of the most actionable system of biomolecules: the metabolome. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2019; 171:177-181. [PMID: 31643083 PMCID: PMC7003909 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The metabolome is a system of small biomolecules (metabolites) and a direct result of human bioculture. Consequently, metabolomics is well poised to impact anthropological and biomedical research for the foreseeable future. Overall, we provide a perspective on the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of metabolomics, which we argue are often more alarming than those of genomics. Given the current mechanisms to fund research, ELSI beyond human DNA is stifled and in need of considerable attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecil M Lewis
- University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Arts and Sciences, Norman, OK.,OU Center on the Ethics of Indigenous Genomic Research, Norman, OK.,OU Stephenson Cancer Center, Norman, OK.,OU Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, Norman, OK.,OU Department of Anthropology, Norman, OK
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Arts and Sciences, Norman, OK.,OU Stephenson Cancer Center, Norman, OK.,OU Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, Norman, OK.,OU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Norman, OK.,OU Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, Norman, OK
| | | | - Paul G Spicer
- University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Arts and Sciences, Norman, OK.,OU Center on the Ethics of Indigenous Genomic Research, Norman, OK.,OU Stephenson Cancer Center, Norman, OK.,OU Department of Anthropology, Norman, OK
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