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Hameed J, Nazir R. Probiotic Potential of Lactobacillus and Enterococcus Strains Isolated From the Faecal Microbiota of Critically Endangered Hangul Deer (Cervus hanglu hanglu): Implications for Conservation Management. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2024:10.1007/s12602-024-10325-0. [PMID: 39046670 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-024-10325-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
The mammalian gut microbiota plays a crucial role in promoting host health, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are commonly employed as probiotics for their beneficial effects. The Hangul deer (Cervus hanglu hanglu), a critically endangered red deer subspecies found in the Indian subcontinent, requires meticulous health management for its conservation. This pioneering study aimed to isolate, identify, and evaluate the in-vitro probiotic functional properties of LAB strains from the faeces of Hangul deer. A total of 27 LAB strains were isolated and identified using 16S rDNA gene sequencing, followed by comprehensive probiotic characterization and safety assessment. Remarkably, four species exhibited robust resistance and survivability against varying pH levels and bile salts, along with high aggregation and co-aggregation capacities. Notably, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Enterococcus mundtii strains displayed antibacterial activities. Safety assessment revealed the absence of hemolytic activity and virulence genes in all four strains. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that Lactobacillus acidophilus and Enterococcus casseliflavus were susceptible to all tested antibiotics, while Enterococcus mundtii exhibited resistance to clindamycin, and Enterococcus gallinarum exhibited resistance to erythromycin. These findings suggest that the isolated LAB strains possess advantageous probiotic characteristics and hold potential as dietary supplements for promoting the health and disease management of Hangul deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javaid Hameed
- Microbiology Research Laboratory, Centre of Research for Development (CORD), University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, J&K, India
| | - Ruqeya Nazir
- Microbiology Research Laboratory, Centre of Research for Development (CORD), University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, J&K, India.
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DeCandia AL, Adeduro L, Thacher P, Crosier A, Marinari P, Bortner R, Garelle D, Livieri T, Santymire R, Comizzoli P, Maslanka M, Maldonado JE, Koepfli KP, Muletz-Wolz C, Bornbusch SL. Gut bacterial composition shows sex-specific shifts during breeding season in ex situ managed black-footed ferrets. J Hered 2024; 115:385-398. [PMID: 37886904 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esad065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome of mammals engages in a dynamic relationship with the body and contributes to numerous physiological processes integral to overall health. Understanding the factors shaping animal-associated bacterial communities is therefore paramount to the maintenance and management in ex situ wildlife populations. Here, we characterized the gut microbiome of 48 endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) housed at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (Front Royal, Virginia, USA). We collected longitudinal fecal samples from males and females across two distinct reproductive seasons to consider the role of host sex and reproductive physiology in shaping bacterial communities, as measured using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Within each sex, gut microbial composition differed between breeding and non-breeding seasons, with five bacterial taxa emerging as differentially abundant. Between sexes, female and male microbiomes were similar during non-breeding season but significantly different during breeding season, which may result from sex-specific physiological changes associated with breeding. Finally, we found low overall diversity consistent with other mammalian carnivores alongside high relative abundances of potentially pathogenic microbes such as Clostridium, Escherichia, Paeniclostridium, and (to a lesser degree) Enterococcus-all of which have been associated with gastrointestinal or reproductive distress in mammalian hosts, including black-footed ferrets. We recommend further study of these microbes and possible therapeutic interventions to promote more balanced microbial communities. These results have important implications for ex situ management practices that can improve the gut microbial health and long-term viability of black-footed ferrets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L DeCandia
- Biology Department, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Laura Adeduro
- Biology Department, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Piper Thacher
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - Adrienne Crosier
- Center for Animal Care Sciences, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - Paul Marinari
- Center for Animal Care Sciences, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - Robyn Bortner
- National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center, Carr, CO, United States
| | - Della Garelle
- National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center, Carr, CO, United States
| | - Travis Livieri
- Prairie Wildlife Research, Stevens Point, WI, United States
| | - Rachel Santymire
- Biology Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Pierre Comizzoli
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - Michael Maslanka
- Department of Nutrition Science, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Jesús E Maldonado
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA, United States
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - Carly Muletz-Wolz
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Sally L Bornbusch
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
- Department of Nutrition Science, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
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Ning R, Li C, Xia M, Zhang Y, Gan Y, Huang Y, Zhang T, Song H, Zhang S, Guo W. Pseudomonas-associated bacteria play a key role in obtaining nutrition from bamboo for the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0381923. [PMID: 38305171 PMCID: PMC10913395 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03819-23] [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: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota plays a vital role in obtaining nutrition from bamboo for giant pandas. However, low cellulase activity has been observed in the panda's gut. Besides, no specific pathway has been implicated in lignin digestion by gut microbiota of pandas. Therefore, the mechanism by which they obtain nutrients is still controversial. It is necessary to elucidate the precise pathways employed by gut microbiota of pandas to degrade lignin. Here, the metabolic pathways for lignin degradation in pandas were explored by comparing 209 metagenomic sequencing data from wild species with different feeding habits. Lignin degradation central pathways, including beta-ketoadipate and homogentisate pathway, were enriched in the gut of wild bamboo-eating pandas. The gut microbiome of wild bamboo-eating specialists was enriched with genes from pathways implicated in degrading ferulate and p-coumarate into acetyl-CoA and succinyl-CoA, which can potentially provide the raw materials for metabolism in pandas. Specifically, Pseudomonas, as the most dominant gut bacteria genus, was found to be the main bacteria to provide genes involved in lignin or lignin derivative degradation. Herein, three Pseudomonas-associated strains isolated from the feces of wild pandas showed the laccase, lignin peroxidase, and manganese peroxidase activity and extracellular lignin degradation ability in vitro. A potential mechanism for pandas to obtain nutrition from bamboo was proposed based on the results. This study provides novel insights into the adaptive evolution of pandas from the perspective of lignin metabolism. IMPORTANCE Although giant pandas only feed on bamboo, the mechanism of lignin digestion in pandas is unclear. Here, the metabolic pathways for lignin degradation in wild pandas were explored by comparing gut metagenomic from species with different feeding habits. Results showed that lignin degradation central pathways, including beta-ketoadipate and homogentisate pathway, were enriched in the gut of wild bamboo-eating pandas. Genes from pathways involved in degrading ferulate and p-coumarate via beta-ketoadipate pathway were also enriched in bamboo-eating pandas. The final products of the above process, such as acetyl-CoA, can potentially provide the raw materials for metabolism in pandas. Specifically, Pseudomonas, as the most dominant gut bacteria genus, mainly provides genes involved in lignin degradation. Herein, Pseudomonas-associated strains isolated from the feces of pandas could degrade extracellular lignin. These findings suggest that gut microbiome of pandas is crucial in obtaining nutrition from lignin via Pseudomonas, as the main lignin-degrading bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihong Ning
- Sichuan Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Prevention and Control Technology of Veterinary Drug Residue in Animal-origin Food, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Caiwu Li
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Maohua Xia
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technology, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Sichuan Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Prevention and Control Technology of Veterinary Drug Residue in Animal-origin Food, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yunong Gan
- Sichuan Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Prevention and Control Technology of Veterinary Drug Residue in Animal-origin Food, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Tianyou Zhang
- Chimelong Safari Park in Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haitao Song
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Siyuan Zhang
- Sichuan Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Prevention and Control Technology of Veterinary Drug Residue in Animal-origin Food, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Guo
- Sichuan Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Prevention and Control Technology of Veterinary Drug Residue in Animal-origin Food, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
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Li Y, Xu W, Wang J, Liu H, Liu J, Zhang L, Hou R, Shen F, Liu Y, Cai K. Giant pandas in captivity undergo short-term adaptation in nerve-related pathways. BMC ZOOL 2024; 9:4. [PMID: 38383502 PMCID: PMC10880213 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-024-00195-y] [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: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Behaviors in captive animals, including changes in appetite, activity level, and social interaction, are often seen as adaptive responses. However, these behaviors may become progressively maladaptive, leading to stress, anxiety, depression, and other negative reactions in animals. RESULTS In this study, we investigated the whole-genome sequencing data of 39 giant panda individuals, including 11 in captivity and 28 in the wild. To eliminate the mountain range effect and focus on the factor of captivity only, we first performed a principal component analysis. We then enumerated the 21,474,180 combinations of wild giant pandas (11 chosen from 28) and calculated their distances from the 11 captive individuals. The 11 wild individuals with the closest distances were used for the subsequent analysis. The linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns demonstrated that the population was almost eliminated. We identified 505 robust selected genomic regions harboring at least one SNP, and the absolute frequency difference was greater than 0.6 between the two populations. GO analysis revealed that genes in these regions were mainly involved in nerve-related pathways. Furthermore, we identified 22 GO terms for which the selection strength significantly differed between the two populations, and there were 10 nerve-related pathways among them. Genes in the differentially abundant regions were involved in nerve-related pathways, indicating that giant pandas in captivity underwent minor genomic selection. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between genetic variation and chromatin conformation structures. We found that nucleotide diversity (θπ) in the captive population was correlated with chromatin conformation structures, which included A/B compartments, topologically associated domains (TADs) and TAD-cliques. For each GO term, we then compared the expression level of genes regulated by the above four factors (AB index, TAD intactness, TAD clique and PEI) with the corresponding genomic background. The retained 10 GO terms were all coordinately regulated by the four factors, and three of them were associated with nerve-related pathways. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed that giant pandas in captivity undergo short-term adaptation in nerve-related pathways. Furthermore, it provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of gene expression regulation under short-term adaptation to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology On Endangered Wildlife, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology On Endangered Wildlife, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology On Endangered Wildlife, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology On Endangered Wildlife, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiawen Liu
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology On Endangered Wildlife, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology On Endangered Wildlife, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
| | - Rong Hou
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology On Endangered Wildlife, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
| | - Fujun Shen
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology On Endangered Wildlife, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuliang Liu
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology On Endangered Wildlife, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China
| | - Kailai Cai
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China.
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology On Endangered Wildlife, Panda Avenue, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, China.
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5
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Zhu L, Wang J. Editorial: Community series in the wildlife gut microbiome and its implication for conservation biology, volume II. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1329928. [PMID: 38173679 PMCID: PMC10761474 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1329928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lifeng Zhu
- School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianjun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
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Korpita TM, Muths EL, Watry MK, McKenzie VJ. Captivity, Reintroductions, and the Rewilding of Amphibian-associated Bacterial Communities. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:2271-2281. [PMID: 37222806 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02229-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Many studies have noted differences in microbes associated with animals reared in captivity compared to their wild counterparts, but few studies have examined how microbes change when animals are reintroduced to the wild after captive rearing. As captive assurance populations and reintroduction programs increase, a better understanding of how microbial symbionts respond during animal translocations is critical. We examined changes in microbes associated with boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas), a threatened amphibian, after reintroduction to the wild following captive rearing. Previous studies demonstrate that developmental life stage is an important factor in amphibian microbiomes. We collected 16S marker-gene sequencing datasets to investigate: (i) comparisons of the skin, mouth, and fecal bacteria of boreal toads across four developmental life stages in captivity and the wild, (ii) tadpole skin bacteria before and after reintroduction to the wild, and (iii) adult skin bacteria during reintroduction to the wild. We demonstrated that differences occur across skin, fecal, and mouth bacterial communities in captive versus wild boreal toads, and that the degree of difference depends on developmental stage. Skin bacterial communities from captive tadpoles were more similar to their wild counterparts than captive post-metamorphic individuals were to their wild counterparts. When captive-reared tadpoles were introduced to a wild site, their skin bacteria changed rapidly to resemble wild tadpoles. Similarly, the skin bacterial communities of reintroduced adult boreal toads also shifted to resemble those of wild toads. Our results indicate that a clear microbial signature of captivity in amphibians does not persist after release into natural habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Korpita
- Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Erin L Muths
- United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Ave. Bldg C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA
| | - Mary Kay Watry
- National Park Service, Rocky Mountain National Park, 1000 US Highway 36, Estes Park, CO, 80517, USA
| | - Valerie J McKenzie
- Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
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Zhao M, Li Y, Wei W, Zhang Z, Zhou H. The distribution variation of pathogens and virulence factors in different geographical populations of giant pandas. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1264786. [PMID: 37789855 PMCID: PMC10543425 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1264786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal diseases caused by opportunistic pathogens seriously threaten the health and survival of giant pandas. However, our understanding of gut pathogens in different populations of giant pandas, especially in the wild populations, is still limited. Here, we conducted a study based on 52 giant panda metagenomes to investigate the composition and distribution of gut pathogens and virulence factors (VFs) in five geographic populations (captive: GPCD and GPYA; wild: GPQIN, GPQIO, and GPXXL). The results of the beta-diversity analyzes revealed a close relationship and high similarity in pathogen and VF compositions within the two captive groups. Among all groups, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes emerged as the top three abundant phyla. By using the linear discriminant analysis effect size method, we identified pathogenic bacteria unique to different populations, such as Klebsiella in GPCD, Salmonella in GPYA, Hafnia in GPQIO, Pedobacter in GPXXL, and Lactococcus in GPQIN. In addition, we identified 12 VFs that play a role in the intestinal diseases of giant pandas, including flagella, CsrA, enterobactin, type IV pili, alginate, AcrAB, capsule, T6SS, urease, type 1 fimbriae, polar flagella, allantoin utilization, and ClpP. These VFs influence pathogen motility, adhesion, iron uptake, acid resistance, and protein regulation, thereby contributing to pathogen infection and pathogenicity. Notably, we also found a difference in virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa between GPQIN and non-GPQIN wild populations, in which the relative abundance of VFs (0.42%) of P. aeruginosa was the lowest in GPQIN and the highest in non-GPQIN wild populations (GPXXL: 23.55% and GPQIO: 10.47%). In addition to enhancing our understanding of gut pathogens and VFs in different geographic populations of giant pandas, the results of this study provide a specific theoretical basis and data support for the development of effective conservation measures for giant pandas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
- Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuxia Li
- Shimian Agricultural and Rural Bureau, Shimian, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Wei
- College of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
- Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Zejun Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
- Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
- Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
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Zhou Y, Duan L, Zeng Y, Song X, Pan K, Niu L, Pu Y, Li J, Khalique A, Fang J, Jing B, Zeng D, Shen B, Ni X. The panda-derived Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BSG201683 improves LPS-induced intestinal inflammation and epithelial barrier disruption in vitro. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:249. [PMID: 37674107 PMCID: PMC10481503 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02928-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Captive pandas are suffering from intestinal infection due to intestinal microbiota characterized by a high abundance of Enterobacteriaceae induced by long-term captivity. Probiotic supplements showed improvement in intestinal barrier function and inflammation. However, the effects of panda-derived probiotics on the intestinal epithelium and inflammation have not been elucidated. In the present study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) impaired Caco-2 and RAW264.7 inflammatory models were applied to assess the protection of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BSG201683 (L. plantarum G83) on barrier disruption and inflammation. The results showed that treatment with L. plantarum G83 significantly decreased the paracellular permeability to fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated dextran (MW 4000, FITC-D4) after LPS induction. Meanwhile, L. plantarum G83 alleviated the reduction in tight junction (TJ) proteins and downregulated proinflammatory cytokines caused by LPS in Caco-2 cells. L. plantarum G83 also significantly decreased the expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. In addition, the IL-10 increased in both Caco-2 and RAW264.7 cells after L. plantarum G83 treatment. The phagocytosis activity of RAW264.7 cells was significantly increased after L. plantarum G83 treatment. Toll-like receptor 4/ nuclear factor kappa-B (TLR4/NF-κB) signaling pathways were significantly down-regulated after L. plantarum G83 intervention, and the phosphorylation of NF-κB/p65 was consistent with this result. Our findings suggest that L. plantarum G83 improves intestinal inflammation and epithelial barrier disruption in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhou
- Animal Microecology Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Department of Urology and Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Ling Duan
- Animal Feed Affairs of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan Zeng
- Animal Microecology Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Xu Song
- Animal Microecology Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Kangcheng Pan
- Animal Microecology Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Lili Niu
- Chengdu Wildlife Institute, Chengdu Zoo, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China
| | - Yang Pu
- Chengdu Wildlife Institute, Chengdu Zoo, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiakun Li
- Department of Urology and Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Abdul Khalique
- Animal Microecology Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Fang
- Animal Microecology Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Bo Jing
- Animal Microecology Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Dong Zeng
- Animal Microecology Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Bairong Shen
- Department of Urology and Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.
| | - Xueqin Ni
- Animal Microecology Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.
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9
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Dallas JW, Warne RW. Captivity and Animal Microbiomes: Potential Roles of Microbiota for Influencing Animal Conservation. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 85:820-838. [PMID: 35316343 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-01991-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
During the ongoing biodiversity crisis, captive conservation and breeding programs offer a refuge for species to persist and provide source populations for reintroduction efforts. Unfortunately, captive animals are at a higher disease risk and reintroduction efforts remain largely unsuccessful. One potential factor in these outcomes is the host microbiota which includes a large diversity and abundance of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that play an essential role in host physiology. Relative to wild populations, the generalized pattern of gut and skin microbiomes in captivity are reduced alpha diversity and they exhibit a significant shift in community composition and/or structure which often correlates with various physiological maladies. Many conditions of captivity (antibiotic exposure, altered diet composition, homogenous environment, increased stress, and altered intraspecific interactions) likely lead to changes in the host-associated microbiome. To minimize the problems arising from captivity, efforts can be taken to manipulate microbial diversity and composition to be comparable with wild populations through methods such as increasing dietary diversity, exposure to natural environmental reservoirs, or probiotics. For individuals destined for reintroduction, these strategies can prime the microbiota to buffer against novel pathogens and changes in diet and improve reintroduction success. The microbiome is a critical component of animal physiology and its role in species conservation should be expanded and included in the repertoire of future management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason W Dallas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, 1125 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA.
| | - Robin W Warne
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, 1125 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
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10
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Fieschi-Méric L, van Leeuwen P, Denoël M, Lesbarrères D. Encouraging news for in situ conservation: Translocation of salamander larvae has limited impacts on their skin microbiota. Mol Ecol 2023. [PMID: 36872055 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16914] [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: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
The key role of symbiotic skin bacteria communities in amphibian resistance to emerging pathogens is well recognized, but factors leading to their dysbiosis are not fully understood. In particular, the potential effects of population translocations on the composition and diversity of hosts' skin microbiota have received little attention, although such transfers are widely carried out as a strategy for amphibian conservation. To characterize the potential reorganization of the microbiota over such a sudden environmental change, we conducted a common-garden experiment simulating reciprocal translocations of yellow-spotted salamander larvae across three lakes. We sequenced skin microbiota samples collected before and 15 days after the transfer. Using a database of antifungal isolates, we identified symbionts with known function against the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a major driver of amphibian declines. Our results indicate an important reorganization of bacterial assemblages throughout ontogeny, with strong changes in composition, diversity and structure of the skin microbiota in both control and translocated individuals over the 15 days of monitoring. Unexpectedly, the diversity and community structure of the microbiota were not significantly affected by the translocation event, thus suggesting a strong resilience of skin bacterial communities to environmental change-at least across the time-window studied here. A few phylotypes were more abundant in the microbiota of translocated larvae, but no differences were found among pathogen-inhibiting symbionts. Taken together, our results support amphibian translocations as a promising strategy for this endangered animal class, with limited impact on their skin microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Fieschi-Méric
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Amphibians (LECA), Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch (FOCUS), Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium.,Biology Department, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pauline van Leeuwen
- Biology Department, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.,Conservation Genetics Laboratory, University de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Mathieu Denoël
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Amphibians (LECA), Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch (FOCUS), Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - David Lesbarrères
- Biology Department, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.,Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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11
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Blyton MDJ, Pascoe J, Hynes E, Soo RM, Hugenholtz P, Moore BD. The koala gut microbiome is largely unaffected by host translocation but rather influences host diet. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1085090. [PMID: 36937253 PMCID: PMC10018171 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1085090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Translocation is a valuable and increasingly used strategy for the management of both threatened and overabundant wildlife populations. However, in some instances the translocated animals fail to thrive. Differences in diet between the source and destination areas may contribute to poor translocation outcomes, which could conceivably be exacerbated if the animals' microbiomes are unsuited to the new diet and cannot adapt. Methods In this study we tracked how the faecal microbiome of a specialist Eucalyptus folivore, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), changed over the course of a year after translocation. We assessed microbiome composition by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of faecal pellets. Results We found no significant overall changes in the faecal microbiomes of koalas post-translocation (n = 17) in terms of microbial richness, diversity or composition when compared to the faecal microbiomes of koalas from an untranslocated control group (n = 12). This was despite the translocated koalas feeding on a greater variety of Eucalyptus species after translocation. Furthermore, while differences between koalas accounted for half of the microbiome variation, estimated diets at the time of sampling only accounted for 5% of the variation in the koala microbiomes between sampling periods. By contrast, we observed that the composition of koala faecal microbiomes at the time of translocation accounted for 37% of between koala variation in post-translocation diet. We also observed that translocated koalas lost body condition during the first month post-translocation and that the composition of the koalas' initial microbiomes were associated with the magnitude of that change. Discussion These findings suggest that the koala gut microbiome was largely unaffected by dietary change and support previous findings suggesting that the koala gut microbiome influences the tree species chosen for feeding. They further indicate that future research is needed to establish whether the koalas' gut microbiomes are directly influencing their health and condition or whether aspects of the koala gut microbiomes are an indicator of underlying physiological differences or pathologies. Our study provides insights into how animal microbiomes may not always be affected by the extreme upheaval of translocation and highlights that responses may be host species-specific. We also provide recommendations to improve the success of koala translocations in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela D. J. Blyton
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, Australia
- The University of Queensland, Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- *Correspondence: Michaela D. J. Blyton,
| | - Jack Pascoe
- Conservation Ecology Centre, Cape Otway, VIC, Australia
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Rochelle M. Soo
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Philip Hugenholtz
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Ben D. Moore
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, Australia
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12
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Cui X, Zhang Q, Zhang Q, Chen H, Liu G, Zhu L. The putative maintaining mechanism of gut bacterial ecosystem in giant pandas and its potential application in conservation. Evol Appl 2023; 16:36-47. [PMID: 36699119 PMCID: PMC9850007 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals living in captivity and the wild show differences in the internal structure of their gut microbiomes. Here, we performed a meta-analysis of the microbial data of about 494 fecal samples obtained from giant pandas (captive and wild giant pandas). Our results show that the modular structures and topological features of the captive giant panda gut microbiome differ from those of the wild populations. The co-occurrence network of wild giant pandas also contained more nodes and edges, indicating a higher complexity and stability compared to that of captive giant pandas. Keystone species analysis revealed the differences between geographically different wild populations, indicating the potential effect of geography on the internal modular structure. When combining all the giant panda samples for module analysis, we found that the abundant taxa (e.g., belonged to Flavobacterium, Herbaspirillum, and Escherichia-Shigella) usually acted as module hubs to stabilize the modular structure, while the rare taxa usually acted as connectors of different modules. We conclude that abundant and rare taxa play different roles in the gut bacterial ecosystem. The conservation of some key bacterial species is essential for promoting the development of the gut microbiome in pandas. The living environment of the giant pandas can influence the internal structure, topological features, and strength of interrelationships in the gut microbiome. This study provides new insights into the conservation and management of giant panda populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Cui
- College of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Qinrong Zhang
- College of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Qunde Zhang
- College of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Hua Chen
- Mingke Biotechnology (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.HangzhouChina
| | - Guoqi Liu
- Mingke Biotechnology (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.HangzhouChina
| | - Lifeng Zhu
- College of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
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13
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Microbial rewilding in the gut microbiomes of captive ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in Madagascar. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22388. [PMID: 36575246 PMCID: PMC9794702 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26861-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial rewilding, whereby exposure to naturalistic environments can modulate or augment gut microbiomes and improve host-microbe symbiosis, is being harnessed as an innovative approach to human health, one that may also have significant value to animal care and conservation. To test for microbial rewilding in animal microbiomes, we used a unique population of wild-born ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) that were initially held as illegal pets in unnatural settings and, subsequently, relocated to a rescue center in Madagascar where they live in naturalistic environments. Using amplicon and shotgun metagenomic sequencing of lemur and environmental microbiomes, we found multiple lines of evidence for microbial rewilding in lemurs that were transitioned from unnatural to naturalistic environments: A lemur's duration of exposure to naturalistic settings significantly correlated with (a) increased compositional similarly to the gut communities of wild lemurs, (b) decreased proportions of antibiotic resistance genes that were likely acquired via human contact during pethood, and (c) greater covariation with soil microbiomes from natural habitats. Beyond the inherent psychosocial value of naturalistic environments, we find that actions, such as providing appropriate diets, minimizing contact with humans, and increasing exposure to natural environmental consortia, may assist in maximizing host-microbe symbiosis in animals under human care.
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14
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Adaptation of gut microbiome and host metabolic systems to lignocellulosic degradation in bamboo rats. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:1980-1992. [PMID: 35568757 PMCID: PMC9107070 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01247-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Bamboo rats (Rhizomys pruinosus) are among the few mammals that lives on a bamboo-based diet which is mainly composed of lignocellulose. However, the mechanisms of adaptation of their gut microbiome and metabolic systems in the degradation of lignocellulose are largely unknown. Here, we conducted a multi-omics analysis on bamboo rats to investigate the interaction between their gut microbiomes and metabolic systems in the pre- and post-weaning periods, and observed significant relationships between dietary types, gut microbiome, serum metabolome and host gene expression. For comparison, published gut microbial data from the famous bamboo-eating giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) were also used for analysis. We found that the adaptation of the gut microbiome of the bamboo rat to a lignocellulose diet is related to a member switch in the order Bacteroidales from family Bacteroidaceae to family Muribaculaceae, while for the famous bamboo-eating giant panda, several aerobes and facultative anaerobes increase after weaning. The conversion of bacteria with an increased relative abundance in bamboo rats after weaning enriched diverse carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) associated with lignocellulose degradation and functionally enhanced the biosynthesis of amino acids and B vitamins. Meanwhile, the circulating concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) derived metabolites and the metabolic capacity of linoleic acid in the host were significantly elevated. Our findings suggest that fatty acid metabolism, including linoleic acid and SCFAs, are the main energy sources for bamboo rats in response to the low-nutrient bamboo diet.
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15
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Bornbusch SL, Greene LK, Rahobilalaina S, Calkins S, Rothman RS, Clarke TA, LaFleur M, Drea CM. Gut microbiota of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) vary across natural and captive populations and correlate with environmental microbiota. Anim Microbiome 2022; 4:29. [PMID: 35484581 PMCID: PMC9052671 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-022-00176-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inter-population variation in host-associated microbiota reflects differences in the hosts' environments, but this characterization is typically based on studies comparing few populations. The diversity of natural habitats and captivity conditions occupied by any given host species has not been captured in these comparisons. Moreover, intraspecific variation in gut microbiota, generally attributed to diet, may also stem from differential acquisition of environmental microbes-an understudied mechanism by which host microbiomes are directly shaped by environmental microbes. To more comprehensively characterize gut microbiota in an ecologically flexible host, the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta; n = 209), while also investigating the role of environmental acquisition, we used 16S rRNA sequencing of lemur gut and soil microbiota sampled from up to 13 settings, eight in the wilderness of Madagascar and five in captivity in Madagascar or the U.S. Based on matched fecal and soil samples, we used microbial source tracking to examine covariation between the two types of consortia. RESULTS The diversity of lemur gut microbes varied markedly within and between settings. Microbial diversity was not consistently greater in wild than in captive lemurs, indicating that this metric is not necessarily an indicator of host habitat or environmental condition. Variation in microbial composition was inconsistent both with a single, representative gut community for wild conspecifics and with a universal 'signal of captivity' that homogenizes the gut consortia of captive animals. Despite the similar, commercial diets of captive lemurs on both continents, lemur gut microbiomes within Madagascar were compositionally most similar, suggesting that non-dietary factors govern some of the variability. In particular, soil microbial communities varied across geographic locations, with the few samples from different continents being the most distinct, and there was significant and context-specific covariation between gut and soil microbiota. CONCLUSIONS As one of the broadest, single-species investigations of primate microbiota, our study highlights that gut consortia are sensitive to multiple scales of environmental differences. This finding begs a reevaluation of the simple 'captive vs. wild' dichotomy. Beyond the important implications for animal care, health, and conservation, our finding that environmental acquisition may mediate aspects of host-associated consortia further expands the framework for how host-associated and environmental microbes interact across different microbial landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally L. Bornbusch
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | | | | | - Samantha Calkins
- Department of Psychology, Program in Animal Behavior and Conservation, Hunter College, New York, NY USA
| | - Ryan S. Rothman
- Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments, Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | - Tara A. Clarke
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | - Marni LaFleur
- Department of Anthropology, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Christine M. Drea
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
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16
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Xia W, Liu G, Wang D, Chen H, Zhu L, Li D. Functional convergence of Yunnan snub-nosed monkey and bamboo-eating panda gut microbiomes revealing the driving by dietary flexibility on mammal gut microbiome. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:685-699. [PMID: 35140888 PMCID: PMC8814018 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiomes of non-human primates have received a great deal of attention due to their close relationship to humans. In recent years, these studies have mainly focused on the gut microbiome of wild primates, which will be helpful to understanding the evolution of primates and their gut microbiomes (e.g., gut microbiome plasticity and diet flexibility). However, there is still a lack of basic information on the gut microbiomes from wild populations. Here, we investigated the gut microbial composition (16S rRNA gene) and function (metagenome and metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs)) of Yunnan snub-nosed monkey populations in Weixi County, Yunnan Province, China, that had diets either completely based on wild-foraging or were regularly supplemented with human provisioned food. We found a significant difference in the gut microbiome between these two populations: the gut microbiome of the wild-foraging (no food provision) population was enriched genes involved in the detoxification of bamboo cyanide (high proportion of bamboo shoot intake) and chitin (from insect diet) digestion, while the gut microbiome of the food provisioned (e.g., fruits) wild populations were enriched genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Moreover, the gut microbiome of the wild-foraging population shared a putatively functional convergence with the gut microbiome of wild bamboo-eating pandas: such as microbes and genes involved in the cyanide detoxification. Therefore, the gut microbiome of the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey displayed the potential plasticity in response to diet flexibility. Long-term food-provisioning of the wild population has led to dramatic changes in gut microbial composition, function, and even antibiotic resistance. The antibiotic resistance profile for the wild Yunnan snub-nosed monkey population could be considered the baseline and an important piece of information for conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wancai Xia
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
- Institute of Rare Animals and Plants, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Guoqi Liu
- Mingke Biotechnology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dali Wang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
- Institute of Rare Animals and Plants, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Hua Chen
- Mingke Biotechnology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lifeng Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
- Corresponding authors at: College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China (L. Zhu); Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), Nanchong, China West Normal University, China (D. Li).
| | - Dayong Li
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
- Institute of Rare Animals and Plants, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
- Corresponding authors at: College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China (L. Zhu); Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), Nanchong, China West Normal University, China (D. Li).
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17
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Diaz J, Reese AT. Possibilities and limits for using the gut microbiome to improve captive animal health. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:89. [PMID: 34965885 PMCID: PMC8715647 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00155-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of its potential to modulate host health, the gut microbiome of captive animals has become an increasingly important area of research. In this paper, we review the current literature comparing the gut microbiomes of wild and captive animals, as well as experiments tracking the microbiome when animals are moved between wild and captive environments. As a whole, these studies report highly idiosyncratic results with significant differences in the effect of captivity on the gut microbiome between host species. While a few studies have analyzed the functional capacity of captive microbiomes, there has been little research directly addressing the health consequences of captive microbiomes. Therefore, the current body of literature cannot broadly answer what costs, if any, arise from having a captive microbiome in captivity. Addressing this outstanding question will be critical to determining whether it is worth pursuing microbial manipulations as a conservation tool. To stimulate the next wave of research which can tie the captive microbiome to functional and health impacts, we outline a wide range of tools that can be used to manipulate the microbiome in captivity and suggest a variety of methods for measuring the impact of such manipulation preceding therapeutic use. Altogether, we caution researchers against generalizing results between host species given the variability in gut community responses to captivity and highlight the need to understand what role the gut microbiome plays in captive animal health before putting microbiome manipulations broadly into practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Diaz
- Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Aspen T Reese
- Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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18
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McManus N, Holmes SM, Louis EE, Johnson SE, Baden AL, Amato KR. The gut microbiome as an indicator of habitat disturbance in a Critically Endangered lemur. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:222. [PMID: 34915861 PMCID: PMC8680155 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01945-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Habitat disturbance affects the biology and health of animals globally. Understanding the factors that contribute to the differential responses of animals to habitat disturbance is critical for conservation. The gut microbiota represents a potential pathway through which host responses to habitat disturbance might be mediated. However, a lack of quantitative environmental data in many gut microbiome (GM) studies of wild animals limits our ability to pinpoint mechanisms through which habitat disturbance affects the GM. Here, we examine the impact of anthropogenic habitat disturbance on the diet and GM of the Critically Endangered black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata editorum). We collected fecal samples and behavioral data from Varecia occupying habitats qualitatively categorized as primary forest, moderately disturbed forest, and heavily disturbed forest. RESULTS Varecia diet and GM composition differed substantially across sites. Dietary richness predicted GM richness across sites, and overall GM composition was strongly correlated to diet composition. Additionally, the consumption of three specific food items positively correlated to the relative abundances of five microbial strains and one microbial genus across sites. However, diet did not explain all of the GM variation in our dataset, and differences in the GM were detected that were not correlated with diet, as measured. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that diet is an important influence on the Varecia GM across habitats and thus could be leveraged in novel conservation efforts in the future. However, other factors such as contact with humans should also be accounted for. Overall, we demonstrate that quantitative data describing host habitats must be paired with GM data to better target the specific mechanisms through which environmental change affects the GM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolette McManus
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Sheila M Holmes
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90183, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Edward E Louis
- Grewcock Center for Conservation and Research, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE, 68107, USA
| | - Steig E Johnson
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Andrea L Baden
- Department of Anthropology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Department of Anthropology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
- The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, USA.
| | - Katherine R Amato
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
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19
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Yao R, Dai Q, Wu T, Yang Z, Chen H, Liu G, Zhu Y, Qi D, Yang X, Luo W, Gu X, Yang X, Zhu L. Fly-over phylogeny across invertebrate to vertebrate: The giant panda and insects share a highly similar gut microbiota. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:4676-4683. [PMID: 34504662 PMCID: PMC8390952 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Many studies highlight that host phylogeny and diet are the two main factors influencing the animal gut microbiota. However, the internal mechanisms driving the evolution of animal gut microbiota may be more complex and complicated than we previously realized. Here, based on a large-scale meta-analysis of animal gut microbiota (16 s RNA gene data from approximately 1,800 samples; 108 metagenomes) across a wide taxonomic range of hosts, from invertebrate to vertebrate, we found high similarity in the gut microbial community (high proportion of Gammaproteobacteria (Pseudomonas)) of invertebrate insects and vertebrate bamboo-eating pandas (giant panda and red panda), which might be associated their plant-eating behavior and the presence of oxygen in the intestinal tract. A Pseudomonas strain-level analysis using 108 metagenomes further revealed that the response to either host niches or selection by the host might further lead to host-specific strains (or sub-strains) among the different hosts congruent with their evolutionary history. In this study, we uncovered new insights into the current understanding of the evolution of animals and their gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Yao
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qinlong Dai
- Sichuan Liziping National Nature Reserve, Shimian, China
- Shimian Research Center of Giant Panda Small Population Conservation and Rejuvenation, Shimian, China
| | - Tonggui Wu
- East China Coastal Forest Ecosystem Long-term Research Station, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou Zhejiang, China
| | | | - Hua Chen
- Mingke Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, China
| | - Guoqi Liu
- Mingke Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, China
| | - Yudong Zhu
- Sichuan Liziping National Nature Reserve, Shimian, China
- Shimian Research Center of Giant Panda Small Population Conservation and Rejuvenation, Shimian, China
| | - Dunwu Qi
- Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Xu Yang
- Chengdu Xinagai Information Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Luo
- Sichuan Liziping National Nature Reserve, Shimian, China
- Shimian Research Center of Giant Panda Small Population Conservation and Rejuvenation, Shimian, China
| | - Xiaodong Gu
- Sichuan Station of Wildlife Survey and Management, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuyu Yang
- Sichuan Station of Wildlife Survey and Management, Chengdu, China
| | - Lifeng Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
- Corresponding author.
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20
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Succession of Intestinal Microbial Structure of Giant Pandas ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca) during Different Developmental Stages and Its Correlation with Cellulase Activity. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082358. [PMID: 34438815 PMCID: PMC8388744 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082358] [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: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are endangered animals and are uniquely inhabitant in China. These rare animals have gradually developed bamboo-eating adaptability through persistent evolution. Intestinal microbes play an important role in the digestion, absorption, metabolism, and development of giant pandas especially by facilizing the degradation of bamboo polysaccharides such as cellulose. Currently, genes directly related to cellulose degradation have not been identified in the genome of giant panda, and cellulose digestion is therefore likely dependent on intestinal microbes. This study analyzed the changes in intestinal microbial structure of giant pandas (cubs, sub-adults, and adults) in different developmental stages. The impact was also assessed with the changes in food composition probed into the succession regularity of intestinal microbes and the activities of intestinal flora on the digestion and utilization of cellulose in bamboo. Abstract The interaction between intestinal microbial flora and giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is indispensable for the healthy development of giant pandas. In this study, we analysed the diversity of bacteria and fungi in the intestines of six giant pandas (two pandas in each development stage) with a high-throughput sequencing technique to expand the relative variation in abundance of dominant microbes and potential cellulose-degradation genera in the intestines of the giant pandas and to explore the correlation between dominant microbial genera in the intestines and cellulose digestion activities of giant pandas. The results showed that the intestinal bacterial diversity of young giant pandas was higher than that of sub-adult and adult giant pandas, and Shannon’s diversity index was about 2.0. The intestinal bacterial diversity of giant pandas from sub-adult to adult (mature stage) stage showed an increasing trend, but the intestinal fungal diversity showed no considerable regular relations with their ages. The microbial composition and abundance of giant pandas changed in different developmental stages. Pearson correlation analysis and path analysis showed that there was a close relationship between the dominant microbes in the intestines of giant pandas, and the interaction between microbial genera might affect the cellulose digestion ability of giant pandas. Generally, the digestibility of cellulose degraders in pandas was still insufficient, with low enzymic activity and immature microbial structure. Therefore, the utilization and digestion of bamboo cellulose still might not be a main source of energy for pandas.
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21
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Jin L, Huang Y, Yang S, Wu D, Li C, Deng W, Zhao K, He Y, Li B, Zhang G, Xiong Y, Wei R, Li G, Wu H, Zhang H, Zou L. Diet, habitat environment and lifestyle conversion affect the gut microbiomes of giant pandas. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 770:145316. [PMID: 33517011 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Gut microbiota (GM) are important for the health of giant pandas (GPs), in addition to the utilization of bamboo in their diets. However, it is not fully understood how diet, habitat environment and lifestyle contribute to the composition of GM in GP. Consequently, we evaluated how dietary changes, habitat environment conversions and lifestyle shifts influence the GM of GPs using high-throughput sequencing and genome-resolved metagenomics. The GM of GPs were more similar when their hosts exhibited the same diet. High fiber diets significantly increased the diversity and decreased the richness of gut bacterial communities alone or interacted with the age factor (p < 0.05). The abundances of Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, Acinetobacter, and Clostridium significantly increased during diet conversion process (Non-parametric factorial Kruskal-Wallis sum-rank test, LDA > 4). Reconstruction of 60 metagenome-assembled-genomes (MAGs) indicated that these bacteria were likely responsible for bamboo digestion via gene complements involved in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin degradation. While habitat environment may play a more important role in shaping the GM of GP, lifestyle can also greatly affect bacterial communities. The GM structure in reintroduced GPs notably converged to that of wild pandas. Importantly, the main bacterial genera of wild GPs could aid in lignin degradation, while those of reintroduced GPs were related to cellulose and hemicellulose digestion. Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, Acinetobacter, and Clostridium may contribute to lignocellulose digestion in GP. The results revealed that diet conversion, habitat environment and lifestyle could remarkably influence the GM of GP. In addition, results suggested that increasing the ability of lignin degradation with GM may aid to change the GM of reintroduced pandas to resemble those of wild pandas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Jin
- College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Shengzhi Yang
- College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Daifu Wu
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Caiwu Li
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Wenwen Deng
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Ke Zhao
- College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongguo He
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Bei Li
- College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Guiquan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Yaowu Xiong
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Rongping Wei
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Guo Li
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Hongning Wu
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Hemin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Chengdu, China
| | - Likou Zou
- College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
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22
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Couch CE, Wise BL, Scurlock BM, Rogerson JD, Fuda RK, Cole EK, Szcodronski KE, Sepulveda AJ, Hutchins PR, Cross PC. Effects of supplemental feeding on the fecal bacterial communities of Rocky Mountain elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249521. [PMID: 33831062 PMCID: PMC8031386 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Supplemental feeding of wildlife is a common practice often undertaken for recreational or management purposes, but it may have unintended consequences for animal health. Understanding cryptic effects of diet supplementation on the gut microbiomes of wild mammals is important to inform conservation and management strategies. Multiple laboratory studies have demonstrated the importance of the gut microbiome for extracting and synthesizing nutrients, modulating host immunity, and many other vital host functions, but these relationships can be disrupted by dietary perturbation. The well-described interplay between diet, the microbiome, and host health in laboratory and human systems highlights the need to understand the consequences of supplemental feeding on the microbiomes of free-ranging animal populations. This study describes changes to the gut microbiomes of wild elk under different supplemental feeding regimes. We demonstrated significant cross-sectional variation between elk at different feeding locations and identified several relatively low-abundance bacterial genera that differed between fed versus unfed groups. In addition, we followed four of these populations through mid-season changes in supplemental feeding regimes and demonstrated a significant shift in microbiome composition in a single population that changed from natural forage to supplementation with alfalfa pellets. Some of the taxonomic shifts in this population mirrored changes associated with ruminal acidosis in domestic livestock. We discerned no significant changes in the population that shifted from natural forage to hay supplementation, or in the populations that changed from one type of hay to another. Our results suggest that supplementation with alfalfa pellets alters the native gut microbiome of elk, with potential implications for population health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E. Couch
- Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Benjamin L. Wise
- Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Jackson, Wyoming, United States of America
| | | | - Jared D. Rogerson
- Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Pinedale, Wyoming, United States of America
| | - Rebecca K. Fuda
- Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, Prineville, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Eric K. Cole
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Elk Refuge, Jackson, Wyoming, United States of America
| | - Kimberly E. Szcodronski
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America
| | - Adam J. Sepulveda
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America
| | - Patrick R. Hutchins
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America
| | - Paul C. Cross
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America
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23
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Hu T, Dai Q, Chen H, Zhang Z, Dai Q, Gu X, Yang X, Yang Z, Zhu L. Geographic pattern of antibiotic resistance genes in the metagenomes of the giant panda. Microb Biotechnol 2021; 14:186-197. [PMID: 32812361 PMCID: PMC7888472 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The rise in infections by antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a serious public health problem worldwide. The gut microbiome of animals is a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the correlation between the gut microbiome of wild animals and ARGs remains controversial. Here, based on the metagenomes of giant pandas (including three wild populations from the Qinling, Qionglai and Xiaoxiangling Mountains, and two major captive populations from Yaan and Chengdu), we investigated the potential correlation between the constitution of the gut microbiome and the composition of ARGs across the different geographic locations and living environments. We found that the types of ARGs were correlated with gut microbiome composition. The NMDS cluster analysis using Jaccard distance of the ARGs composition of the gut microbiome of wild giant pandas displayed a difference based on geographic location. Captivity also had an effect on the differences in ARGs composition. Furthermore, we found that the Qinling population exhibited profound dissimilarities of both gut microbiome composition and ARGs (the highest proportion of Clostridium and vancomycin resistance genes) when compared to the other wild and captive populations studies, which was supported by previous giant panda whole-genome sequencing analysis. In this study, we provide an example of a potential consensus pattern regarding host population genetics, symbiotic gut microbiome and ARGs. We revealed that habitat isolation impacts the ARG structure in the gut microbiome of mammals. Therefore, the difference in ARG composition between giant panda populations will provide some basic information for their conservation and management, especially for captive populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Hu
- College of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjing210046China
| | - Qinlong Dai
- Sichan Liziping National Nature ReserveShimianChina
- Shimian Research Center of Giant Panda Small Population Conservation and RejuvenationShimianChina
| | - Hua Chen
- Mingke Biotechnology Co., Ltd.HangzhouChina
| | - Zheng Zhang
- College of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjing210046China
| | - Qiang Dai
- Chengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| | - Xiaodong Gu
- Sichuan Station of Wildlife Survey and ManagementChengdu610082China
| | - Xuyu Yang
- Sichuan Station of Wildlife Survey and ManagementChengdu610082China
| | - Zhisong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education)China West Normal UniversityNanchong637002China
| | - Lifeng Zhu
- College of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjing210046China
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24
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Guo W, Ren K, Ning R, Li C, Zhang H, Li D, Xu L, Sun F, Dai M. Fecal microbiota transplantation provides new insight into wildlife conservation. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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25
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Bragg M, Freeman EW, Lim HC, Songsasen N, Muletz-Wolz CR. Gut Microbiomes Differ Among Dietary Types and Stool Consistency in the Captive Red Wolf ( Canis rufus). Front Microbiol 2020; 11:590212. [PMID: 33304337 PMCID: PMC7693430 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.590212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Captive management of many wildlife species can be challenging, with individuals displaying health disorders that are not generally described in the wild population. Retrospective studies have identified gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, in particular inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as the second leading cause of captive adult red wolf (Canis rufus) mortality. Recent molecular studies show that imbalanced gut microbial composition is tightly linked to IBD in the domestic dog. The goal of the present study was to address two main questions: (1) how do red wolf gut microbiomes differ between animals with loose stool consistency, indicative of GI issues, and those with normal stool consistency and (2) how does dietary type relate to stool consistency and red wolf gut microbiomes? Fresh fecal samples were collected from 48 captive wolves housed in eight facilities in the United States and from two wild wolves living in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, NC, United States. For each individual, the stool consistency was categorized as loose or normal using a standardized protocol and their diet was categorized as either wild, whole meat, a mix of whole meat and kibble or kibble. We characterized gut microbiome structure using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We found that red wolves with a loose stool consistency differed in composition than wolves with normal stool consistency, suggesting a link between GI health and microbiome composition. Diet was not related to stool consistency but did significantly impact gut microbiome composition; gut microbiome composition of wolves fed a kibble diet were significantly different than the gut microbiome composition of wolves fed a mixed, whole meat and wild diet. Findings from this study increase the understanding of the interplay between diet and GI health in the red wolf, a critical piece of information needed to maintain a healthy red wolf population ex situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Bragg
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, United States
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Elizabeth W. Freeman
- School of Integrative Studies, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | - Haw Chuan Lim
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | - Nucharin Songsasen
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - Carly R. Muletz-Wolz
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, United States
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26
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van Leeuwen P, Mykytczuk N, Mastromonaco GF, Schulte‐Hostedde AI. Effects of captivity, diet, and relocation on the gut bacterial communities of white-footed mice. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:4677-4690. [PMID: 32551052 PMCID: PMC7297780 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbes can have important impacts on their host's survival. Captive breeding programs for endangered species include periods of captivity that can ultimately have an impact on reintroduction success. No study to date has investigated the impacts of captive diet on the gut microbiota during the relocation process of generalist species. This study simulated a captive breeding program with white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) to describe the variability in gut microbial community structure and composition during captivity and relocation in their natural habitat, and compared it to wild individuals. Mice born in captivity were fed two different diets, a control with dry standardized pellets and a treatment with nonprocessed components that reflect a version of their wild diet that could be provided in captivity. The mice from the two groups were then relocated to their natural habitat. Relocated mice that had the treatment diet had more phylotypes in common with the wild-host microbiota than mice under the control diet or mice kept in captivity. These results have broad implications for our understanding of microbial community dynamics and the effects of captivity on reintroduced animals, including the potential impact on the survival of endangered species. This study demonstrates that ex situ conservation actions should consider a more holistic perspective of an animal's biology including its microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline van Leeuwen
- Department of BiologyLaurentian UniversitySudburyONCanada
- Conservation Genetics LaboratoryUniversity of LiègeLiègeBelgium
| | - Nadia Mykytczuk
- Vale Living with Lakes CentreLaurentian UniversitySudburyONCanada
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27
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Zhang Z, Hu T, Lu G, Zhu L. Lessons from bamboo-eating pandas and their gut microbiome: Gut microbiome flow and applications. Evol Appl 2020; 13:615-619. [PMID: 32211055 PMCID: PMC7086052 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The giant panda is one of the most endangered mammals in the world, and many studies have revealed their evolutionary adaptation to the local environment (e.g., dietary cellulose and cyanide) on the evidences from population genetics and their gut microbiome. Here, based on the results of our analysis of the giant panda gut microbiome, we concluded that instability and resilience are the two primary characteristics of the giant panda gut microbiome. This basic information may have an impact on giant panda conservation, as well the management of other animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhang
- College of Life Sciences Nanjing Normal University Nanjing China
| | - Ting Hu
- College of Life Sciences Nanjing Normal University Nanjing China
| | - Guoqing Lu
- Department of Biology University of Nebraska Omaha Omaha NE USA
| | - Lifeng Zhu
- College of Life Sciences Nanjing Normal University Nanjing China
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28
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O'Toole PW, Shiels PG. The role of the microbiota in sedentary lifestyle disorders and ageing: lessons from the animal kingdom. J Intern Med 2020; 287:271-282. [PMID: 31957113 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A paradox of so-called developed countries is that, as the major historical causes of human mortality are eliminated or mitigated by medical progress, lifestyle-related diseases have become major killers. Furthermore, as lifespan is extended by the combined effects of modern medicine, health span is struggling to keep apace because of the burden of noncommunicable diseases linked to diet and sedentary lifestyle. The gut microbiome is now recognized as a plastic environmental risk factor for many of these diseases, the microbiome being defined as the complex community of co-evolved commensal microbes that breaks down components of a complex diet, modulates innate immunity, and produces signalling molecules and metabolites that can impact on diverse regulatory systems in mammals. Aspects of the so-called 'Western' lifestyle linked to disease risk such as energy dense diet and antibiotic treatment are known to affect the composition and function of the microbiome. Here, we review the detailed mechanisms whereby the gut microbiome may modulate risk of diseases linked to sedentary lifestyle and ageing-related health loss. We focus on the comparative value of natural animal models such as hibernation for studying metabolic regulation and the challenge of extrapolating from animal models to processes that occur in human ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- P W O'Toole
- From the, School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - P G Shiels
- Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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29
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Guo W, Mishra S, Wang C, Zhang H, Ning R, Kong F, Zeng B, Zhao J, Li Y. Comparative Study of Gut Microbiota in Wild and Captive Giant Pandas ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E827. [PMID: 31635158 PMCID: PMC6826394 DOI: 10.3390/genes10100827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Captive breeding has been used as an effective approach to protecting endangered animals but its effect on the gut microbiome and the conservation status of these species is largely unknown. The giant panda is a flagship species for the conservation of wildlife. With integrated efforts including captive breeding, this species has been recently upgraded from "endangered" to "vulnerable" (IUCN 2016). Since a large proportion (21.8%) of their global population is still captive, it is critical to understand how captivity changes the gut microbiome of these pandas and how such alterations to the microbiome might affect their future fitness and potential impact on the ecosystem after release into the wild. Here, we use 16S rRNA (ribosomal RNA) marker gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomics sequencing to demonstrate that the fecal microbiomes differ substantially between wild and captive giant pandas. Fecal microbiome diversity was significantly lower in captive pandas, as was the diversity of functional genes. Additionally, captive pandas have reduced functional potential for cellulose degradation but enriched metabolic pathways for starch metabolism, indicating that they may not adapt to a wild diet after being released into the wild since a major component of their diet in the wild will be bamboo. Most significantly, we observed a significantly higher level of amylase activity but a lower level of cellulase activity in captive giant panda feces than those of wild giant pandas, shown by an in vitro experimental assay. Furthermore, antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors, as well as heavy metal tolerance genes were enriched in the microbiomes of captive pandas, which raises a great concern of spreading these genes to other wild animals and ecosystems when they are released into a wild environment. Our results clearly show that captivity has altered the giant panda microbiome, which could have unintended negative consequences on their adaptability and the ecosystem during the reintroduction of giant pandas into the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Guo
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China.
- School of Laboratory Medicine/Sichuan Provincial EngineeringLaboratory for Prevention and Control Technology of Veterinary Drug Residue in Animal-origin Food, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610500, China.
| | - Sudhanshu Mishra
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China.
| | - Chengdong Wang
- China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Ya'an 611830, Sichuan, China.
| | - Hemin Zhang
- China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Ya'an 611830, Sichuan, China.
| | - Ruihong Ning
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China.
| | - Fanli Kong
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China.
| | - Bo Zeng
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China.
| | - Jiangchao Zhao
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
| | - Ying Li
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China.
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30
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Hong M, Wei W, Zhou H, Tang J, Han H, Zhang Z. Creative conservation in China: releasing captive giant pandas into the wild. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:31548-31549. [PMID: 31493077 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06384-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mingsheng Hong
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Junfeng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Han Han
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Zejun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, China.
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