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Dockman RL, Ottesen EA. Purified fibers in chemically defined synthetic diets destabilize the gut microbiome of an omnivorous insect model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.15.594388. [PMID: 38798626 PMCID: PMC11118275 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.15.594388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The macronutrient composition of a host's diet shapes its gut microbial community, with dietary fiber in particular escaping host digestion to serve as a potent carbon source for gut microbiota. Despite widespread recognition of fiber's importance to microbiome health, nutritional research often fails to differentiate hyper-processed fibers from cell-matrix derived intrinsic fibers, limiting our understanding of how individual polysaccharides influence the gut community. We use the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) as a model system to dissect the response of complex gut microbial communities to diet modifications that are impossible to test in traditional host models. Here, we designed synthetic diets from lab-grade, purified ingredients to identify how the cockroach microbiome responds to six different carbohydrates (chitin, methylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, pectin, starch, xylan) in otherwise balanced diets. We show via 16S rRNA gene profiling that these synthetic diets reduce bacterial diversity and alter the phylogenetic composition of cockroach gut microbiota in a fiber-dependent manner, regardless of the vitamin and protein content of the diet. Comparisons with cockroaches fed whole-food diets reveal that synthetic diets induce blooms in common cockroach-associated taxa and subsequently fragment previously stable microbial correlation networks. Our research leverages an unconventional microbiome model system and customizable lab-grade artificial diets to shed light on how purified polysaccharides, as opposed to nutritionally complex intrinsic fibers, exert substantial influence over a normally stable gut community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L. Dockman
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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Cao K, Tao M, Pu X, Hou Y, Ren Y, Liu W, Yang X. Effects of dietary nutrients of the gut microbiota in the long-tailed dwarf hamster ( Cricetulus longicaudatus). Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11507. [PMID: 38932956 PMCID: PMC11199130 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota is a key factor in maintaining the dietary and metabolic homeostasis of small mammals. To explore the effect of diet on the gut microbiota of the long-tailed dwarf hamster (Cricetulus longicaudatus), 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing combined with bioinformatics analysis was used to investigate the succession process of the gut microbiota and effects of different nutrients on the composition and function of the gut microbiota. The results showed that diet structure can significantly influence the composition and function of the gut microbiota, as well as the health of animals. The highest relative abundance of Firmicutes, and the simplest co-occurrence network occurred in the wild. Whereas the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes is higher and the most complex network structure was observed after 35 days of same feeding. Compared to the other four groups, the relative abundance of Firmicutes in the wheat + peanuts (WP) group was the highest after 35 days of different feeding, and the highest relative abundance of Bacteroidetes occurred in the wheat-only (WH) group. Bacteroidetes exhibit carbohydrate degradation activity, and Firmicutes are strongly associated with fat uptake. We also found a significant positive correlation between Lactobacillus and body weight, indicating that Lactobacillus plays a crucial role in modulating fat intake and weight management. This study provides empirical evidence to facilitate the understanding of the co-evolutionary dynamics between C. longicaudatus and their gut microbiota and establishes a theoretical foundation for utilizing gut microbiota in rodent control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanglin Cao
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, College of Plant ProtectionShanxi Agricultural UniversityTaiyuanChina
| | - Mengfan Tao
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, College of Plant ProtectionShanxi Agricultural UniversityTaiyuanChina
| | - Xinsheng Pu
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, College of Plant ProtectionShanxi Agricultural UniversityTaiyuanChina
| | - Yu Hou
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, College of Plant ProtectionShanxi Agricultural UniversityTaiyuanChina
| | - Yue Ren
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, College of Plant ProtectionShanxi Agricultural UniversityTaiyuanChina
| | - Wei Liu
- Shanxi Forestry and Grassland General Engineering StationTaiyuanChina
| | - Xin'gen Yang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, College of Plant ProtectionShanxi Agricultural UniversityTaiyuanChina
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Wang Y, Zhai J, Tang B, Dong Y, Sun S, He S, Zhao W, Lancuo Z, Jia Q, Wang W. Metagenomic comparison of gut communities between wild and captive Himalayan griffons. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1403932. [PMID: 38784654 PMCID: PMC11112026 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1403932] [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: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Himalayan griffons (Gyps himalayensis), known as the scavenger of nature, are large scavenging raptors widely distributed on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and play an important role in maintaining the balance of the plateau ecosystem. The gut microbiome is essential for host health, helping to maintain homeostasis, improving digestive efficiency, and promoting the development of the immune system. Changes in environment and diet can affect the composition and function of gut microbiota, ultimately impacting the host health and adaptation. Captive rearing is considered to be a way to protect Himalayan griffons and increase their population size. However, the effects of captivity on the structure and function of the gut microbial communities of Himalayan griffons are poorly understood. Still, availability of sequenced metagenomes and functional information for most griffons gut microbes remains limited. Methods In this study, metagenome sequencing was used to analyze the composition and functional structures of the gut microbiota of Himalayan griffons under wild and captive conditions. Results Our results showed no significant differences in the alpha diversity between the two groups, but significant differences in beta diversity. Taxonomic classification revealed that the most abundant phyla in the gut of Himalayan griffons were Fusobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes_A, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Campylobacterota. At the functional level, a series of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) functional pathways, carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) categories, virulence factor genes (VFGs), and pathogen-host interactions (PHI) were annotated and compared between the two groups. In addition, we recovered nearly 130 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Discussion In summary, the present study provided a first inventory of the microbial genes and metagenome-assembled genomes related to the Himalayan griffons, marking a crucial first step toward a wider investigation of the scavengers microbiomes with the ultimate goal to contribute to the conservation and management strategies for this near threatened bird.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Jundie Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Boyu Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Yonggang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Shengzhen Sun
- Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center of Qinghai Province, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Shunfu He
- Xining Wildlife Park of Qinghai Province, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Wenxin Zhao
- Xining Wildlife Park of Qinghai Province, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Zhuoma Lancuo
- College of Finance and Economics, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Qiangqiang Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Wen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
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Jenkins L, McKnight DT, Parks M, Byer NW, Oliaro FJ, Thompson D, Scott R. Variable effects of captivity on microbiomes in populations of IUCN-endangered Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae121. [PMID: 38755020 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae121] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Microbiome composition is increasingly considered in species reintroduction efforts and may influence survival and reproductive success. Many turtle species are threatened by anthropogenic pressures and are frequently raised in captivity for reintroduction efforts, yet little is known about turtle microbiome composition in either wild or captive settings. Here, we investigated trends in microbiome composition of captive and wild IUCN-endangered Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). METHODS AND RESULTS We amplified and sequenced the V4 region of the 16S rDNA locus from plastron, cloaca, and water samples of wild E. blandingii adults and two populations of captive E. blandingii juveniles being raised for headstarting. Plastron, cloaca, and water-associated microbiomes differed strongly from each other and were highly variable among captive sites and between captive and wild sites. Across plastron, cloaca, and water-associated microbial communities, microbial diversity changed over time, but not in a predictable direction between captive sites. Plastron beta diversity correlated with growth rate in captive samples, indicating that external microbiomes may correlate with individual fitness. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that external and internal microbiomes vary between captive and wild turtles and may reflect differences in fitness of captive-raised individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Jenkins
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
- Department of Biology, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL 60187, United States
| | | | - Matthew Parks
- Department of Biology, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK 73034, United States
| | - Nathan W Byer
- Division of Natural Resources, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland, OH 44144, United States
| | - Francis J Oliaro
- Conservation Research Department, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
| | - Dan Thompson
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Wheaton, IL 60189, United States
| | - Rodney Scott
- Department of Biology, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL 60187, United States
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Bornbusch SL, Power ML, Schulkin J, Drea CM, Maslanka MT, Muletz-Wolz CR. Integrating microbiome science and evolutionary medicine into animal health and conservation. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:458-477. [PMID: 37956701 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Microbiome science has provided groundbreaking insights into human and animal health. Similarly, evolutionary medicine - the incorporation of eco-evolutionary concepts into primarily human medical theory and practice - is increasingly recognised for its novel perspectives on modern diseases. Studies of host-microbe relationships have been expanded beyond humans to include a wide range of animal taxa, adding new facets to our understanding of animal ecology, evolution, behaviour, and health. In this review, we propose that a broader application of evolutionary medicine, combined with microbiome science, can provide valuable and innovative perspectives on animal care and conservation. First, we draw on classic ecological principles, such as alternative stable states, to propose an eco-evolutionary framework for understanding variation in animal microbiomes and their role in animal health and wellbeing. With a focus on mammalian gut microbiomes, we apply this framework to populations of animals under human care, with particular relevance to the many animal species that suffer diseases linked to gut microbial dysfunction (e.g. gut distress and infection, autoimmune disorders, obesity). We discuss diet and microbial landscapes (i.e. the microbes in the animal's external environment), as two factors that are (i) proposed to represent evolutionary mismatches for captive animals, (ii) linked to gut microbiome structure and function, and (iii) potentially best understood from an evolutionary medicine perspective. Keeping within our evolutionary framework, we highlight the potential benefits - and pitfalls - of modern microbial therapies, such as pre- and probiotics, faecal microbiota transplants, and microbial rewilding. We discuss the limited, yet growing, empirical evidence for the use of microbial therapies to modulate animal gut microbiomes beneficially. Interspersed throughout, we propose 12 actionable steps, grounded in evolutionary medicine, that can be applied to practical animal care and management. We encourage that these actionable steps be paired with integration of eco-evolutionary perspectives into our definitions of appropriate animal care standards. The evolutionary perspectives proposed herein may be best appreciated when applied to the broad diversity of species under human care, rather than when solely focused on humans. We urge animal care professionals, veterinarians, nutritionists, scientists, and others to collaborate on these efforts, allowing for simultaneous care of animal patients and the generation of valuable empirical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally L Bornbusch
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
- Department of Nutrition Science, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
| | - Michael L Power
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
| | - Jay Schulkin
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific St., Box 356460, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Christine M Drea
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 104 Biological Sciences, Campus Box 90383, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Michael T Maslanka
- Department of Nutrition Science, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
| | - Carly R Muletz-Wolz
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
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6
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Wang G, Jiang Z, Song Y, Xing Y, He S, Boomi P. Gut microbiota contribution to selenium deficiency-induced gut-liver inflammation. Biofactors 2024; 50:311-325. [PMID: 37676478 DOI: 10.1002/biof.2006] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
There is limited knowledge about the factors that drive gut-liver axis changes after selenium (Se) deficiency-induced gut or liver injuries. Thus, we tested Se deficiency in mice to determine its effects on intestinal bacterial balance and whether it induced liver injury. Serum Se concentration, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) level, and liver injury biomarkers were tested using a biochemical method, while pathological changes in the liver and jejunum were observed via hematoxylin and eosin stain, and a fluorescence spectrophotometer was used to evaluate intestinal permeability. Tight junction (TJ)-related and toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling-related pathway genes and proteins were tested using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene-targeted sequencing of jejunum microorganisms. Se deficiency significantly decreased glutathione peroxidase activity and disrupted the intestinal flora, with the most significant effect being a decrease in Lactobacillus reuteri. The expression of TJ-related genes and proteins decreased significantly with increased treatment time, whereas supplementation with Se, fecal microbiota transplantation, or L. reuteri reversed these decreases. Signs of liver injury and LPS content were significantly increased after intestinal flora imbalance or jejunum injury, and the levels of TLR signaling-related genes were significantly increased. The results indicated that Se deficiency disrupted the microbiota balance, decreased the expression of intestinal TJ factors, and increased intestinal permeability. By contrast, LPS increased due to a bacterial imbalance, which may induce inflammatory liver injury via the TLR4 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guodong Wang
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Veterinary Biologics Research and Application, Anyang Institute of Technology, Anyang, Henan, China
| | - Zhihui Jiang
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Veterinary Biologics Research and Application, Anyang Institute of Technology, Anyang, Henan, China
| | - Yuwei Song
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Veterinary Biologics Research and Application, Anyang Institute of Technology, Anyang, Henan, China
| | - Yueteng Xing
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Veterinary Biologics Research and Application, Anyang Institute of Technology, Anyang, Henan, China
| | - Simin He
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Veterinary Biologics Research and Application, Anyang Institute of Technology, Anyang, Henan, China
| | - P Boomi
- Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India
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Fleischer R, Jones C, Ledezma-Campos P, Czirják GÁ, Sommer S, Gillespie TR, Vicente-Santos A. Gut microbial shifts in vampire bats linked to immunity due to changed diet in human disturbed landscapes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167815. [PMID: 37852483 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic land-use change alters wildlife habitats and modifies species composition, diversity, and contacts among wildlife, livestock, and humans. Such human-modified ecosystems have been associated with emerging infectious diseases, threatening human and animal health. However, human disturbance also creates new resources that some species can exploit. Common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) in Latin America constitute an important example, as their adaptation to human-modified habitats and livestock blood-feeding has implications for e.g., rabies transmission. Despite the well-known links between habitat degradation and disease emergence, few studies have explored how human-induced disturbance influences wildlife behavioural ecology and health, which can alter disease dynamics. To evaluate links among habitat disturbance, diet shifts, gut microbiota, and immunity, we quantified disturbance around roosting caves of common vampire bats in Costa Rica, measured their long-term diet preferences (livestock or wildlife blood) using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen, evaluated innate and adaptive immune markers, and characterized their gut microbiota. We observed that bats from roosting caves with more cattle farming nearby fed more on cattle blood. Moreover, gut microbial richness and the abundance of specific gut microbes differed according to feeding preferences. Interestingly, bats feeding primarily on wildlife blood harboured a higher abundance of the bacteria Edwardsiella sp., which tended to be associated with higher immunoglobulin G levels. Our results highlight how human land-use change may indirectly affect wildlife health and emerging infectious diseases through diet-induced shifts in microbiota, with implications for host immunity and potential consequences for susceptibility to pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Fleischer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Christie Jones
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Sommer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas R Gillespie
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Program in Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Amanda Vicente-Santos
- Program in Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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8
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Ren S, Zhang L, Tang X, Fan C, Zhao Y, Cheng Q, Zhang Y. Plant Secondary Compounds Promote White Adipose Tissue Browning via Modulation of the Gut Microbiota in Small Mammals. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17420. [PMID: 38139249 PMCID: PMC10743627 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417420] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) is a promising area of research for treating metabolic disorders and obesity in the future. However, studies on plant secondary compounds promoting WAT browning are limited. Herein, we explored the effects of swainsonine (SW) on gut microbiota and WAT browning in captive pikas. SW inhibited body mass gain, increased brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass, and induced WAT browning in pikas. The 16S rDNA sequencing revealed a significant reduction in the alpha diversity and altered community structure of the gut microbiota in captive pikas. However, the addition of SW to the diet significantly increased the alpha diversity of gut microbiota and the relative abundance of Akkermansia, Prevotella, and unclassified_f__Lachnospiraceae, along with the complexity of the microbial co-occurrence network structure, which decreased in the guts of captive pikas. Functional profiles showed that SW significantly decreased the relative abundances of energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, which were enriched in captive pikas. Furthermore, SW decreased deterministic processes of gut microbiota assembly in July and increased them in November. Finally, the genera Prevotella and unclassified_f__Prevotellaceae were positively correlated with BAT mass. Our results highlighted that plant secondary compounds promote WAT browning by modulating the gut microbiota in small mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shien Ren
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Liangzhi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China
| | - Xianjiang Tang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China
| | - Chao Fan
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China
| | - Yaqi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China
| | - Qi Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China
| | - Yanming Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China
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Klure DM, Dearing MD. Seasonal restructuring facilitates compositional convergence of gut microbiota in free-ranging rodents. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad127. [PMID: 37838471 PMCID: PMC10622585 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut microbes provide essential services to their host and shifts in their composition can impact host fitness. However, despite advances in our understanding of how microbes are assembled in the gut, we understand little about the stability of these communities within individuals, nor what factors influence its composition over the life of an animal. For this reason, we conducted a longitudinal survey of the gut microbial communities of individual free-ranging woodrats (Neotoma spp.) across a hybrid zone in the Mojave Desert, USA, using amplicon sequencing approaches to characterize gut microbial profiles and diet. We found that gut microbial communities were individualized and experienced compositional restructuring as a result of seasonal transitions and changes in diet. Turnover of gut microbiota was highest amongst bacterial subspecies and was much lower at the rank of Family, suggesting there may be selection for conservation of core microbial functions in the woodrat gut. Lastly, we identified an abundant core gut bacterial community that may aid woodrats in metabolizing a diet of plants and their specialized metabolites. These results demonstrate that the gut microbial communities of woodrats are highly dynamic and experience seasonal restructuring which may facilitate adaptive plasticity in response to changes in diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan M Klure
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 S 1400 E rm 201, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, United States
| | - M Denise Dearing
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 S 1400 E rm 201, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, United States
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10
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Mo F, Li Y, Liu Z, Zheng J, Huang Z. Captivity restructures the gut microbiota of François' langurs ( Trachypithecus francoisi). Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1166688. [PMID: 37250037 PMCID: PMC10218129 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1166688] [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: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota is crucial to primate survival. Data on the gut microbiota of captive and wild animals can provide a physiological and ecological basis for the conservation of rare and endangered species. To study the effect of captivity on the gut microbiota, we examine the difference in the gut microbiota composition between captive and wild Francois' langurs (Trachypithecus francoisi), using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. The results showed that the composition of the gut microbiota of captive and wild langurs was characterized by Firmicutes (51.93 ± 10.07% vs. 76.15 ± 8.37%) and Bacteroidetes (32.43 ± 10.00% vs. 4.82 ± 1.41%) at the phylum level and was characterized by Oscillospiraceae (15.80 ± 5.19% vs. 30.21 ± 4.87%) at the family level. The alpha diversity of gut microbiota in captive langurs was higher than those in wild, such as the Shannon index (4.45 ± 0.33 vs. 3.98 ± 0.19, P < 0.001) and invSimpson index (35.11 ± 15.63 vs. 19.02 ± 4.87, P < 0.001). Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) results showed significant differences in the composition of gut microbiota between captive and wild langurs at both the phylum and family levels (weight UniFrac algorithm, phylum level: R2 = 0.748, P = 0.001; family level: R2 = 0.685, P = 0.001). The relative abundance of Firmicutes (51.93 ± 10.07%) in captive langurs was lower than that of wild langurs (76.15 ± 8.37%), and the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (32.43 ± 10.00%) in captive langurs was higher than that of wild (4.82 ± 1.41%). Our study concludes that dietary composition could be a crucial determinant in shaping the gut microbiota of langurs because more fiber-rich foods used by the wild langurs could increase the abundance of Firmicutes, and more simple carbohydrate-rich foods consumed by the captive langurs increase the abundance of Bacteroidetes. We highlight the importance of captivity on the gut microbiota and the need to consider the gut microbiota in animal provision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengxiang Mo
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Yuhui Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Jingjin Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Zhonghao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
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11
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Tong Q, Dong WJ, Xu MD, Hu ZF, Guo P, Han XY, Cui LY. Characteristics and a comparison of the gut microbiota in two frog species at the beginning and end of hibernation. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1057398. [PMID: 37206336 PMCID: PMC10191234 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1057398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Season has been suggested to contribute to variation in the gut microbiota of animals. The complicated relationships between amphibians and their gut microbiota and how they change throughout the year require more research. Short-term and long-term hypothermic fasting of amphibians may affect gut microbiota differently; however, these changes have not been explored. In this study, the composition and characteristics of the gut microbiota of Rana amurensis and Rana dybowskii during summer, autumn (short-term fasting) and winter (long-term fasting) were studied by high-throughput Illumina sequencing. Both frog species had higher gut microbiota alpha diversity in summer than autumn and winter, but no significant variations between autumn and spring. The summer, autumn, and spring gut microbiotas of both species differed, as did the autumn and winter microbiomes. In summer, autumn and winter, the dominant phyla in the gut microbiota of both species were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. All animals have 10 OTUs (>90% of all 52 frogs). Both species had 23 OTUs (>90% of all 28 frogs) in winter, accounting for 47.49 ± 3.84% and 63.17 ± 3.69% of their relative abundance, respectively. PICRUSt2 analysis showed that the predominant functions of the gut microbiota in these two Rana were focused on carbohydrate metabolism, Global and overview maps, Glycan biosynthesis metabolism, membrane transport, and replication and repair, translation. The BugBase analysis estimated that among the seasons in the R. amurensis group, Facultatively_Anaerobic, Forms_Biofilms, Gram_Negative, Gram_Positive, Potentially_Pathogenic were significantly different. However, there was no difference for R. dybowskii. The research will reveal how the gut microbiota of amphibians adapts to environmental changes during hibernation, aid in the conservation of endangered amphibians, particularly those that hibernate, and advance microbiota research by elucidating the role of microbiota under various physiological states and environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Tong
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
- Hejiang Forestry Research Institute of Heilongjiang Province, Jiamusi, China
| | - Wen-jing Dong
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Ming-da Xu
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Zong-fu Hu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Peng Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiao-yun Han
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Li-yong Cui
- Hejiang Forestry Research Institute of Heilongjiang Province, Jiamusi, China
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12
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Zhang C, Lian Z, Xu B, Shen Q, Bao M, Huang Z, Jiang H, Li W. Gut Microbiome Variation Along A Lifestyle Gradient Reveals Threats Faced by Asian Elephants. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2023:S1672-0229(23)00069-4. [PMID: 37088195 PMCID: PMC10372918 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
The gut microbiome is closely related to host nutrition and health. However, the relationships between gut microorganisms and host lifestyle are not well characterized. In the absence of confounding geographic variation, we defined clear patterns of variation in the gut microbiomes of Asian elephants (AEs) in the Wild Elephant Valley, Xishuangbanna, China, along a lifestyle gradient (fully captive, semicaptive, semiwild, and purely wild). A phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rRNA gene sequences highlighted that the microbial diversity decreased as the degree of captivity increased. Furthermore, the results showed that the bacterial taxon WCHB1-41_c was significantly affected by lifestyle gradient variations. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed a paucity of genes related to butyrate production in the microbiome of AEs with a pure wild lifestyle, which may be due to the increased environmental unfavorable factors. Overall, these results demonstrate the distinct gut microbiome characteristics among AEs with a gradient of lifestyles and provide a basis for designing strategies to improve the well-being or conservation of this important animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengbo Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Zhenghan Lian
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Bo Xu
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Qingzhong Shen
- Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve Management and Protection Bureau, Jinghong 666100, China
| | - Mingwei Bao
- Asian Elephant Provenance Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna, Jinghong 666100, China
| | - Zunxi Huang
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China.
| | - Hongchen Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Wenjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
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13
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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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14
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Rymer TL, Pillay N. The effects of antibiotics and illness on gut microbial composition in the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281533. [PMID: 36827295 PMCID: PMC9956021 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota are critical for maintaining the health and physiological function of individuals. However, illness and treatment with antibiotics can disrupt bacterial community composition, the consequences of which are largely unknown in wild animals. In this study, we described and quantified the changes in bacterial community composition in response to illness and treatment with antibiotics in a native Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). We collected faecal samples during an undiagnosed illness outbreak in a captive colony of animals, and again at least one year later, and quantified the microbiome at each time point using 16s ribosomal rRNA gene sequencing. Gut bacterial composition was quantified at different taxonomic levels, up to family. Gut bacterial composition changed between time periods, indicating that illness, treatment with antibiotics, or a combination affects bacterial communities. While some bacterial groups increased in abundance, others decreased, suggesting differential effects and possible co-adapted and synergistic interactions. Our findings provide a greater understanding of the dynamic nature of the gut microbiome of a native Australian rodent species and provides insights into the management and ethical well-being of animals kept under captive conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasmin L. Rymer
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Neville Pillay
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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15
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A microbial tale of farming, invasion and conservation: on the gut bacteria of European and American mink in Western Europe. Biol Invasions 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-023-03007-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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16
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Assis BA, Bell TH, Engler HI, King WL. Shared and unique responses in the microbiome of allopatric lizards reared in a standardized environment. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 339:5-12. [PMID: 36266922 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The gut microbiome can influence host fitness and, consequently, the ecology and evolution of natural populations. Microbiome composition can be driven by environmental exposure but also by the host's genetic background and phenotype. To contrast environmental and genetic effects on the microbiome we leverage preserved specimens of eastern fence lizards from allopatric lineages east and west of the Mississippi River but reared in standardized conditions. Bacterial composition was indistinguishable between lineages but responded significantly to host age-a proxy for environmental exposure. This was accompanied by a continuous decrease in bacterial diversity in both lineages, partially driven by decreasing evenness seen only in western lizards. These findings indicate that longer exposure to a homogeneous habitat may have a depreciating effect on microbiome diversity in eastern fence lizards, a response shared by both lineages. We highlight the importance of such effects when extrapolating patterns from laboratory experiments to the natural world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Braulio A Assis
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Terrence H Bell
- Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.,Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Heather I Engler
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - William L King
- Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.,School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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17
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Grieves LA, Bottini CLJ, Gloor GB, MacDougall-Shackleton EA. Uropygial gland microbiota differ between free-living and captive songbirds. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18283. [PMID: 36316352 PMCID: PMC9622905 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22425-4] [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: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic microbes can affect host behavior and fitness. Gut microbiota have received the most study, with less attention to other important microbial communities like those of scent-producing glands such as mammalian anal glands and the avian uropygial gland. However, mounting evidence suggests that microbes inhabiting scent-producing glands play an important role in animal behavior by contributing to variation in chemical signals. Free-living and captive conditions typically differ in social environment, food diversity and availability, disease exposure, and other factors-all of which can translate into differences in gut microbiota. However, whether extrinsic factors such as captivity alter microbial communities in scent glands remains an open question. We compared the uropygial gland microbiota of free-living and captive song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) and tested for an effect of dietary manipulations on the gland microbiota of captive birds. As predicted, the uropygial gland microbiota was significantly different between free-living and captive birds. Surprisingly, microbial diversity was higher in captive than free-living birds, and we found no effect of dietary treatments on captive bird microbiota. Identifying the specific factors responsible for microbial differences among groups and determining whether changes in symbiotic microbiota alter behavior and fitness are important next steps in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. A. Grieves
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B7 Canada ,grid.25073.330000 0004 1936 8227Present Address: Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8S 3L8 Canada
| | - C. L. J. Bottini
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B7 Canada
| | - G. B. Gloor
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5C1 Canada
| | - E. A. MacDougall-Shackleton
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B7 Canada
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18
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Zhang Q, Guo T, Wang X, Zhang X, Geng Y, Liu H, Xu T, Hu L, Zhao N, Xu S. Rumen Microbiome Reveals the Differential Response of CO 2 and CH 4 Emissions of Yaks to Feeding Regimes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2991. [PMID: 36359115 PMCID: PMC9657323 DOI: 10.3390/ani12212991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Shifts in feeding regimes are important factors affecting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock farming. However, the quantitative values and associated drivers of GHG emissions from yaks (Bos grunniens) following shifts in feeding regimes have yet to be fully described. In this study, we aimed to investigate CH4 and CO2 emissions differences of yaks under different feeding regimes and their potential microbial mechanisms. Using static breathing chamber and Picarro G2508 gas concentration analyzer, we measured the CO2 and CH4 emissions from yaks under traditional grazing (TG) and warm-grazing and cold-indoor feeding (WGCF) regimes. Microbial inventories from the ruminal fluid of the yaks were determined via Illumina 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing. Results showed that implementing the TG regime in yaks decreased their CO2 and CH4 emissions compared to the WGCF regime. The alpha diversity of ruminal archaeal community was higher in the TG regime than in the WGCF regime. The beta diversity showed that significant differences in the rumen microbial composition of the TG regime and the WGCF regime. Changes in the rumen microbiota of the yaks were driven by differences in dietary nutritional parameters. The relative abundances of the phyla Neocallimastigomycota and Euryarchaeota and the functional genera Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Orpinomyces, and Methanobrevibacter were significantly higher in the WGCF regime than in the TG regime. CO2 and CH4 emissions from yaks differed mainly because of the enrichment relationship of functional H2- and CO2-producing microorganisms, hydrogen-consuming microbiota, and hydrogenotrophic methanogenic microbiota. Our results provided a view that it is ecologically important to develop GHG emissions reduction strategies for yaks on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau based on traditional grazing regime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tongqing Guo
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xungang Wang
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuanyue Geng
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hongjin Liu
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
| | - Tianwei Xu
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
| | - Linyong Hu
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
| | - Na Zhao
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
| | - Shixiao Xu
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
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19
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Xia Y, Xu X, Chen H, Yue R, Xia D, Wang X, Li J, Sun B. Effects of captive and primate-focused tourism on the gut microbiome of Tibetan macaques. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1023898. [PMID: 36312969 PMCID: PMC9607900 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1023898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Documenting the effects of anthropogenic activities on the gut microbiome of wild animals is important to their conservation practices. Captivity and ecotourism are generally considered two common anthropogenic disturbances on the health of nonhuman primates. Here, we examined the divergences of gut microbiome in different environments of Tibetan macaques. Our results showed that there were no significant differences in the alpha diversity, predominant families and genera of gut microbiomes between wild and tourist groups. However, these indexes decreased significantly in the captive individuals. In addition, the significant differences of beta diversity and community compositions between wild and tourism groups also were detected. In particular, higher potential pathogenic and predicted KEGG pathway of drug resistance (antimicrobial) were detected in the gut microbiome of individuals in captive environment. Our results indicated that living in the wild are beneficial to maintaining gut microbial diversity of Tibetan macaques, while captivity environment is harmful to the health of this macaque. Exploring ways to restore the native gut microbiome and its diversity of captive individual should pay more attention to in the future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingna Xia
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaojuan Xu
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- School of Life Sciences, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, China
| | - Huijuan Chen
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Ran Yue
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Dongpo Xia
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Xi Wang
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Jinhua Li
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- School of Life Sciences, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Jinhua Li,
| | - Binghua Sun
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- Binghua Sun,
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20
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Koziol A, Odriozola I, Nyholm L, Leonard A, San José C, Pauperio J, Ferreira C, Hansen AJ, Aizpurua O, Gilbert MTP, Alberdi A. Enriching captivity conditions with natural elements does not prevent the loss of wild-like gut microbiota but shapes its compositional variation in two small mammals. Microbiologyopen 2022; 11:e1318. [PMID: 36314753 PMCID: PMC9517064 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
As continued growth in gut microbiota studies in captive and model animals elucidates the importance of their role in host biology, further pursuit of how to retain a wild-like microbial community is becoming increasingly important to obtain representative results from captive animals. In this study, we assessed how the gut microbiota of two wild-caught small mammals, namely Crocidura russula (Eulipotyphla, insectivore) and Apodemus sylvaticus (Rodentia, omnivore), changed when bringing them into captivity. We analyzed fecal samples of 15 A. sylvaticus and 21 C. russula, immediately after bringing them into captivity and 5 weeks later, spread over two housing treatments: a "natural" setup enriched with elements freshly collected from nature and a "laboratory" setup with sterile artificial elements. Through sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S recombinant RNA gene, we found that the initial microbial diversity dropped during captivity in both species, regardless of treatment. Community composition underwent a change of similar magnitude in both species and under both treatments. However, we did observe that the temporal development of the gut microbiome took different trajectories (i.e., changed in different directions) under different treatments, particularly in C. russula, suggesting that C. russula may be more susceptible to environmental change. The results of this experiment do not support the use of microbially enriched environments to retain wild-like microbial diversities and compositions, yet show that specific housing conditions can significantly affect the drift of microbial communities under captivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Koziol
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Iñaki Odriozola
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Lasse Nyholm
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Aoife Leonard
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Carlos San José
- Biodonostia Health Research InstituteDonostia‐San SebastianSpain
| | - Joana Pauperio
- CIBIO—Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoUniversidade do PortoVila do CondeCampus de VairãoPortugal
| | - Clara Ferreira
- Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and BiologyUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Anders J. Hansen
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Ostaizka Aizpurua
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - M. Thomas P. Gilbert
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
| | - Antton Alberdi
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
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21
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Liu H, Chen T, Li Y, Zheng J, Liu Z, Li Y, Huang Z. Seasonal variations in gut microbiota of semiprovisioned rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) living in a limestone forest of Guangxi, China. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:951507. [PMID: 36204603 PMCID: PMC9530203 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.951507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessment of gut microbiota, used to explore ecological adaptation strategies and evolutionary potential of species, provides a new viewpoint to the conservation and management of endangered animals. In this research, the gut microbiota of a group of semiprovisioned rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) living in a limestone forest exhibiting seasonal changes in plant items were studied to investigate the adaptation strategies of these macaques to this specific habitat. The findings revealed significant seasonal changes in the diversity and composition of the rhesus macaques’ gut microbiota, which were higher in the rainy season than in the dry season. In the rainy season, Bacteroidetes (31.83 ± 16.14% vs. 19.91 ± 18.20%) were significantly increased and Prevotella (23.70 ± 15.33% vs. 15.40 ± 16.10%), UCG-002 (4.48 ± 3.16% vs. 2.18 ± 2.01%), and UCG-005 (4.22 ± 2.90% vs. 2.03 ± 1.82%) were more enriched at the genus level. In the dry season, Firmicutes significantly increased (71.84 ± 19.28% vs. 60.91 ± 16.77%), and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 (8.45 ± 9.72% vs. 4.76 ± 6.64%), Enterococcus (10.17 ± 13.47% vs. 0.69 ± 2.36%), and Sarcina (4.72 ± 7.66% vs. 2.45 ± 4.71%) were more enriched at the genus level. These differences in gut microbiota may be due to seasonal variations in plant items in these habitats alongside changes in the provisioned foods from tourists. Additionally, deterministic processes predominate the assembly of the macaque’s gut microbiota community. This indicates that the animal’s high reliance on natural plants and provisioned foods increased the impact of deterministic processes. This study concludes that a balance between provisioned foods and natural plants might be vital in shaping the gut microbiota in the macaques. Furthermore, the dynamic adjustment in gut microbiota might be a physiological mechanism for the macaques in response to the seasonal variations in the ecological factors and food provision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Yuhui Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Jingjin Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Youbang Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Zhonghao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- *Correspondence: Zhonghao Huang,
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22
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Doolin ML, Weinstein SB, Dearing MD. PINWORMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH TAXONOMIC BUT NOT FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENCES IN THE GUT MICROBIOME OF WHITE-THROATED WOODRATS (NEOTOMA ALBIGULA). J Parasitol 2022; 108:408-418. [PMID: 36066907 DOI: 10.1645/22-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrates rely on their gut microbiome for digestion, and changes to gut microbial communities can impact host health. Past work, primarily in model organisms, has revealed that endoparasites disrupt the gut microbiome. Here, using wild-caught white-throated woodrats (Neotoma albigula), we tested whether naturally acquired parasite infections are associated with different microbiome structure and function. We surveyed wild N. albigula in eastern Utah for gastrointestinal parasites in the spring and fall of 2019, using traditional fecal float methods and testing a PCR-based approach to detect infection. We tested whether the host gut microbiome structure and function differed based on infection with the most prevalent parasite, the pinworm Lamotheoxyuris ackerti. In spring, infected and uninfected animals had significantly different microbiomes, but these differences were not detected in the fall. However, for both sampling periods, infection was associated with differences in particular microbial taxa determined by differential abundance analysis. As N. albigula rely on their microbiomes to digest both fiber and the plant defensive compound oxalate, we compared microbiome function by measuring dry matter digestibility and oxalate intake in infected and uninfected animals. Although we expected infected animals to have reduced fiber degradation and oxalate intake, we found no difference in microbiome function using these assays. This work suggests that parasite effects on the microbiome may be difficult to detect in complex natural systems, and more studies in wild organisms are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret L Doolin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - Sara B Weinstein
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - M Denise Dearing
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
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23
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Xu X, Xia Y, Sun B. Linking the bacterial microbiome between gut and habitat soil of Tibetan macaque ( Macaca thibetana). Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9227. [PMID: 36177115 PMCID: PMC9471045 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil is a part of the habitat environment of terrestrial or semi-terrestrial mammals, which contains a wide variety of microbes. Although the soil microbiome of the host habitat is considered to be a potentially important influence factor on the mammalian gut microbiome and health, few data are currently available to explore the relationship between gut and host habitat soil microbiome in wild primates. Here, marked divergence of the bacterial microbiome in composition and structure between Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) guts and its habitat soil were detected. In addition, we found that most of the core genera abundance and ASVs in the Tibetan macaques' gut bacterial microbiome could be detected in the corresponding soil samples, but with low abundance. However, the core abundant genera abundant in soil are almost undetectable in the gut of Tibetan macaques. Although there are some ASVs shared by gut and soil bacterial microbiome, the abundant shared ASVs in the guts of Tibetan macaques were rare bacterial taxa in the corresponding soil samples. Notably, all the ASVs shared by guts and soil were present in the soil at relatively low abundance, whereas they were affiliated with diverse bacterial taxa. By linking the bacterial microbiome between Tibetan macaques' gut and its habitat soil, our findings suggest that the predominant bacterial groups from the soil were not likely to colonize the Tibetan macaques' gut, whereas the low-abundance but diverse soil bacteria could be selected by the gut. Whether these rare and low-abundant bacteria are permanent residents of the soil or a source of fecal contamination remains to be determined in future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Xu
- School of Life ScienceHefei Normal UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Yingna Xia
- School of Resource and Environmental EngineeringAnhui UniversityHefeiChina
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral EcologyAnhui UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Binghua Sun
- School of Resource and Environmental EngineeringAnhui UniversityHefeiChina
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral EcologyAnhui UniversityHefeiChina
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24
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Hanhimäki E, Watts PC, Koskela E, Koteja P, Mappes T, Hämäläinen AM. Evolved high aerobic capacity has context-specific effects on gut microbiota. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.934164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota is expected to coevolve with the host's physiology and may play a role in adjusting the host's energy metabolism to suit the host's environment. To evaluate the effects of both evolved host metabolism and the environmental context in shaping the gut microbiota, we used a unique combination of (1) experimental evolution to create selection lines for a fast metabolism and (2) a laboratory-to-field translocation study. Mature bank voles Myodes glareolus from lines selected for high aerobic capacity (A lines) and from unselected control (C lines) were released into large (0.2 ha) outdoor enclosures for longitudinal monitoring. To examine whether the natural environment elicited a similar or more pronounced impact on the gut microbiota of the next generation, we also sampled the field-reared offspring. The gut microbiota were characterized using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of fecal samples. The artificial selection for fast metabolism had minimal impact on the gut microbiota in laboratory conditions but in field conditions, there were differences between the selection lines (A lines vs. C lines) in the diversity, community, and resilience of the gut microbiota. Notably, the selection lines differed in the less abundant bacteria throughout the experiment. The lab-to-field transition resulted in an increase in alpha diversity and an altered community composition in the gut microbiota, characterized by a significant increase in the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and a decrease of Patescibacteria. Also, the selection lines showed different temporal patterns in changes in microbiota composition, as the average gut microbiota alpha diversity of the C lines, but not A lines, was temporarily reduced during the initial transition to the field. In surviving young voles, the alpha diversity of gut microbiota was significantly higher in A-line than C-line voles. These results indicate that the association of host metabolism and gut microbiota is context-specific, likely mediated by behavioral or physiological modifications in response to the environment.
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25
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Tang S, Li Y, Huang C, Yan S, Li Y, Chen Z, Wu Z. Comparison of Gut Microbiota Diversity Between Captive and Wild Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko). Front Microbiol 2022; 13:897923. [PMID: 35783386 PMCID: PMC9248866 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.897923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Captive animals and wild animals may exhibit different characteristics due to the heterogeneity of their living environments. The gut microbiota play an important role in the digestion and absorption, energy metabolism, immune regulation, and physiological health of the host. However, information about the gut microbiota of captive and wild Gekko gecko is currently limited. To determine the difference in gut microbiota community composition, diversity, and structure between captive and wild geckos, we used the Illumina miseq platform to conduct high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of the v3–v4 hypervariable region of 16S rRNA in 54 gecko samples. Our results showed that Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were the dominant gut microbiota phyla of the gecko. The dominant genera comprised mainly Pseudomonas, Burkholderia-caballeronia-paraburkholderia, Ralstonia, Romboutsia, and Bacteroides. Captive geckos had significantly higher alpha diversity and potential pathogenic bacteria than wild populations. Moreover, significant differences in beta diversity of gut microbiota were observed between two populations. Functional prediction analysis showed that the relative abundance of functional pathways of wild geckos was more higher in metabolism, genetic information processing and organismal system function than those in captive geckos. Total length significantly affected gut microbial community (R2 = 0.4527, p = 0.001) and explained 10.45% of the total variation for gut microbial community variance between two groups. These results may be related to differences in diet and living environment between two populations, suggesting that the management of captive populations should mimic wild environments to the greatest extent possible to reduce the impact on their gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanqi Tang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Yuhui Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Chengming Huang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shufa Yan
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Yongtai Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Zening Chen
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- Zening Chen,
| | - Zhengjun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- *Correspondence: Zhengjun Wu,
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26
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Weinstein SB, Stephens WZ, Greenhalgh R, Round JL, Dearing MD. Wild herbivorous mammals (genus Neotoma) host a diverse but transient assemblage of fungi. Symbiosis 2022; 87:45-58. [PMID: 37915425 PMCID: PMC10619970 DOI: 10.1007/s13199-022-00853-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Fungi are often overlooked in microbiome research and, as a result, little is known about the mammalian mycobiome. Although frequently detected in vertebrate guts and known to contribute to digestion in some herbivores, whether these eukaryotes are a persistent part of the mammalian gut microbiome remains contentious. To address this question, we sampled fungi from wild woodrats (Neotoma spp.) collected from 25 populations across the southwestern United States. For each animal, we collected a fecal sample in the wild, and then re-sampled the same individual after a month in captivity on a controlled diet. We characterized and quantified fungi using three techniques: ITS metabarcoding, shotgun metagenomics and qPCR. Wild individuals contained diverse fungal assemblages dominated by plant pathogens, widespread molds, and coprophilous taxa primarily in Ascomycota and Mucoromycota. Fungal abundance, diversity and composition differed between individuals, and was primarily influenced by animal geographic origin. Fungal abundance and diversity significantly declined in captivity, indicating that most fungi in wild hosts came from diet and environmental exposure. While this suggests that these mammals lack a persistent gut mycobiome, natural fungal exposure may still impact fungal dispersal and animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara B. Weinstein
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - W. Zac Stephens
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Robert Greenhalgh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - June L. Round
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - M. Denise Dearing
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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27
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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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28
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Abstract
The behavior of diet selection or diet choice can have wide-reaching implications, scaling from individual animals to ecological and evolutionary processes. Previous work in this area has largely ignored the potential for intestinal microbiota to modulate host foraging decisions. The notion that the gut microbiome may influence host foraging behavior has been highly speculated for years but has not yet been explicitly tested. Here, we show that germ-free mice colonized by differential microbiomes from wild rodents with varying natural feeding strategies exhibited significant differences in their voluntary dietary selection. Specifically, colonized mice differed in voluntary carbohydrate selection, and divergent feeding preferences were associated with differences in circulating essential amino acids, bacterial tryptophan metabolism, and intestinal morphology. Together, these results demonstrate a role for the microbiome in host nutritional physiology and foraging behavior. Diet selection is a fundamental aspect of animal behavior with numerous ecological and evolutionary implications. While the underlying mechanisms are complex, the availability of essential dietary nutrients can strongly influence diet selection behavior. The gut microbiome has been shown to metabolize many of these same nutrients, leading to the untested hypothesis that intestinal microbiota may influence diet selection. Here, we show that germ-free mice colonized by gut microbiota from three rodent species with distinct foraging strategies differentially selected diets that varied in macronutrient composition. Specifically, we found that herbivore-conventionalized mice voluntarily selected a higher protein:carbohydrate (P:C) ratio diet, while omnivore- and carnivore-conventionalized mice selected a lower P:C ratio diet. In support of the long-standing hypothesis that tryptophan—the essential amino acid precursor of serotonin—serves as a peripheral signal regulating diet selection, bacterial genes involved in tryptophan metabolism and plasma tryptophan availability prior to the selection trial were significantly correlated with subsequent voluntary carbohydrate intake. Finally, herbivore-conventionalized mice exhibited larger intestinal compartments associated with microbial fermentation, broadly reflecting the intestinal morphology of their donor species. Together, these results demonstrate that gut microbiome can influence host diet selection behavior, perhaps by mediating the availability of essential amino acids, thereby revealing a mechanism by which the gut microbiota can influence host foraging behavior.
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29
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Zhang XY, Wang DH. Gut Microbial Community and Host Thermoregulation in Small Mammals. Front Physiol 2022; 13:888324. [PMID: 35480035 PMCID: PMC9035535 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.888324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The endotherms, particularly the small mammals living in the polar region and temperate zone, are faced with extreme challenges for maintaining stable core body temperatures in harsh cold winter. The non-hibernating small mammals increase metabolic rate including obligatory thermogenesis (basal/resting metabolic rate, BMR/RMR) and regulatory thermogenesis (mainly nonshivering thermogenesis, NST, in brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle) to maintain thermal homeostasis in cold conditions. A substantial amount of evidence indicates that the symbiotic gut microbiota are sensitive to air temperature, and play an important function in cold-induced thermoregulation, via bacterial metabolites and byproducts such as short-chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids. Cold signal is sensed by specific thermosensitive transient receptor potential channels (thermo-TRPs), and then norepinephrine (NE) is released from sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and thyroid hormones also increase to induce NST. Meanwhile, these neurotransmitters and hormones can regulate the diversity and compositions of the gut microbiota. Therefore, cold-induced NST is controlled by both Thermo-TRPs—SNS—gut microbiota axis and thyroid—gut microbiota axis. Besides physiological thermoregulation, small mammals also rely on behavioral regulation, such as huddling and coprophagy, to maintain energy and thermal homeostasis, and the gut microbial community is involved in these processes. The present review summarized the recent progress in the gut microbiota and host physiological and behavioral thermoregulation in small mammals for better understanding the evolution and adaption of holobionts (host and symbiotic microorganism). The coevolution of host-microorganism symbionts promotes individual survival, population maintenance, and species coexistence in the ecosystems with complicated, variable environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - De-Hua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: De-Hua Wang,
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30
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The gut microbiome of exudivorous marmosets in the wild and captivity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5049. [PMID: 35322053 PMCID: PMC8942988 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08797-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian captive dietary specialists like folivores are prone to gastrointestinal distress and primate dietary specialists suffer the greatest gut microbiome diversity losses in captivity compared to the wild. Marmosets represent another group of dietary specialists, exudivores that eat plant exudates, but whose microbiome remains relatively less studied. The common occurrence of gastrointestinal distress in captive marmosets prompted us to study the Callithrix gut microbiome composition and predictive function through bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA V4 region sequencing. We sampled 59 wild and captive Callithrix across four species and their hybrids. Host environment had a stronger effect on the gut microbiome than host taxon. Wild Callithrix gut microbiomes were enriched for Bifidobacterium, which process host-indigestible carbohydrates. Captive marmoset guts were enriched for Enterobacteriaceae, a family containing pathogenic bacteria. While gut microbiome function was similar across marmosets, Enterobacteriaceae seem to carry out most functional activities in captive host guts. More diverse bacterial taxa seem to perform gut functions in wild marmosets, with Bifidobacterium being important for carbohydrate metabolism. Captive marmosets showed gut microbiome composition aspects seen in human gastrointestinal diseases. Thus, captivity may perturb the exudivore gut microbiome, which raises implications for captive exudivore welfare and calls for husbandry modifications.
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31
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Madden AA, Oliverio AM, Kearns PJ, Henley JB, Fierer N, Starks PTB, Wolfe BE, Romero LM, Lattin CR. Chronic stress and captivity alter the cloacal microbiome of a wild songbird. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:274791. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
There are complex interactions between an organism's microbiome and its response to stressors, often referred to as the “gut-brain axis;” however, the ecological relevance of this axis in wild animals remains poorly understood. Here, we used a chronic mild stress protocol to induce stress in wild-caught house sparrows (Passer domesticus), and compared microbial communities among stressed animals, those recovering from stress, captive controls (unstressed), and a group not brought into captivity. We assessed changes in microbial communities and abundance of shed microbes by culturing cloacal samples on multiple media to select for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi. We complemented this with cultivation-independent 16S and ITS rRNA gene amplification and sequencing, pairing these results with host physiological and immune metrics, including body mass change, relative spleen mass, and plasma corticosterone concentrations. We found significant effects of stress and captivity on the house sparrow microbiomes, with stress leading to an increased relative abundance of endotoxin-producing bacteria— a possible mechanism for the hyperinflammatory response observed in captive avians. While we found evidence that the microbiome community partially recovers after stress cessation, animals may lose key taxa, and the abundance of endotoxin-producing bacteria persists. Our results suggest an overall link between chronic stress, host immune system, and the microbiome, with the loss of potentially beneficial taxa (e.g., lactic acid bacteria), and an increase in endotoxin-producing bacteria due to stress and captivity. Ultimately, consideration of the host's microbiome may be useful when evaluating the impact of stressors on individual and population health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne A. Madden
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
- The Microbe Institute, Everett, MA, 02149, USA
| | - Angela M. Oliverio
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, 195 Prospect St., New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | | | - Jessica B. Henley
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Noah Fierer
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | | | | | | | - Christine R. Lattin
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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32
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Captivity Shifts Gut Microbiota Communities in White-Lipped Deer (Cervus albirostris). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12040431. [PMID: 35203139 PMCID: PMC8868073 DOI: 10.3390/ani12040431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Captivity is a common conservation method for endangered animals. However, a growing number of recent studies have shown that some animals in captivity might be in sub-health condition. The gut microbiota has been described as a complex, interactive internal system that has effects on diseases of the host with many interactions, and the occurrence of certain diseases is accompanied by changes and disorder of gut microbiota. We used16S rRNA sequencing technology and a mathematical model to find differences in gut microbiota composition and assembly processes. The results show that captivity might be unfavorable for white-lipped deer by shifting the gut microbiota composition and assembly process. Abstract White-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris) is a nationally protected wild animal species in China, as well as a unique and endangered species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Captivity may alleviate the pressure from poaching and contribute to the repopulation and conservation of the population in the wild. The gut microbiota is described as a complex, interactive internal system that has effects on diseases of the host, with many interactions. However, the influence of captivity on the composition and assembly process of gut microbiota in white-lipped deer is unclear. This study applied high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing technology to determine differences in the gut microbiota between captive (CW) and wild (WW) white-lipped deer. We used the null model, neutral community model, and niche width to identify whether captivity affects the composition and assembly process of gut microbiota. The results show that WW has a higher number of Firmicutes and a lower number of Bacteroidetes compared with CW at the phylum level, and it has more opportunistic pathogens and specific decomposition bacteria at the genus level. Principal coordinate analysis also indicated significant differences in the composition and function of gut microbiota in CW and WW. Moreover, the results reveal that captivity shifts the ecological assembly process of gut microbiota by raising the contribution of deterministic processes. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that captivity might potentially have an unfavorable effect on white-lipped deer by continually exerting selective pressure.
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33
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Zhang L, Yang F, Li T, Dayananda B, Lin L, Lin C. Lessons from the diet: Captivity and sex shape the gut microbiota in an oviparous lizard ( Calotes versicolor). Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8586. [PMID: 35169453 PMCID: PMC8840884 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have indicated that the abundance and community structure of gut microbiota are altered by diet. In this study, next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene amplicon was performed to evaluate variations in the gut microbiota of wild and captive individuals of both sexes of Calotes versicolor. The results showed that there was a significant sex difference in microbial community structure for wild C. versicolor, Bacteroide was the dominant genus in wild females (WF), whereas Ochrobactrum was the dominant genus in wild males (WM). Acinetobacter and Hymenobacter were the dominant genera in WF, while Clostridium was the dominant genus in captive females (CF). The results indicated that differences in diet between wild and captive C. versicolor also resulted in variations in gut microbiota. Thus, it was not surprising that captivity and sex shape the gut microbiota in C. versicolor. In summary, the fundamental information presented about the gut microbiota of both sexes of wild (and captive females) C. versicolor, indicates that the artificial environments are not suitable for the wild C. versicolor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- School of Basic Medical SciencesHubei University of Chinese MedicineWuhanChina
| | - Fang Yang
- School of Laboratory MedicineHubei University of Chinese MedicineWuhanChina
| | - Tangliang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial TechnologyShandong UniversityQingdaoChina
| | - Buddhi Dayananda
- School of Agriculture and Food SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Longhui Lin
- College of Life and Environmental SciencesHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Chixian Lin
- MOE Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine BioresourcesHainan Key Laboratory of Herpetological ResearchCollege of Fisheries and Life ScienceHainan Tropical Ocean UniversitySanyaChina
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Metagenomic Comparisons between Soft and Hard Feces of Plateau Pikas ( Ochotona curzoniae). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12020149. [PMID: 35049773 PMCID: PMC8772556 DOI: 10.3390/ani12020149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Plateau pika produces hard and soft feces with different morphology, component and microbial structure. Hard feces had more abundant Firmicutes, while soft feces had more abundant Akkermansia. The differences of microbial communities between hard and soft feces were mainly driven by core microbomes. Soft feces had a comprehensive advances in predict functional pathways compared to hard feces, these strengthened functional pathways were closely associated with metabolism of energy, vitamins, and amino acid. Our study preliminarily explored the differences in microbial structure and function between hard and soft feces, provided a foundation for future systematic explorations of the cecotrophy. Abstract The division of hard and soft feces is an effective digestion strategy in the order Lagomorpha. Although previous studies have reported that hard and soft feces differ in morphology and component, the discrepancy in the microbiome remains unclear. This study explored the microbiomes of hard and soft feces in plateau pikas by sequencing the V3 and V4 regions of 16S rDNA. We found that hard feces harbored higher Firmicutes, while soft feces harbored higher Akkermansia. Increased rare bacterial taxa were observed in hard feces compared with soft feces. Moreover, hard and soft feces displayed a greater difference in terms of core operational taxonomy units (OTUs) compared to the total OTUs. The soft feces showed enhancements in all predicted Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functions, indicating an advancing microbial metabolism compared to hard feces. The significantly upregulated pathways in soft feces were mainly enriched in metabolism of energy and carbohydrate, glycan biosynthesis, cofactors and vitamins, and amino acids—all of which are associated with increased contents of microbial proteins, vitamins, and short-chain fatty acids. Our study reports, for the first time, the differential microbiomes between hard and soft feces of pikas and provides direction for the future studies on cecotrophy.
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Couch CE, Epps CW. Host, microbiome, and complex space: applying population and landscape genetic approaches to gut microbiome research in wild populations. J Hered 2022; 113:221-234. [PMID: 34983061 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esab078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, emerging sequencing technologies and computational tools have driven a tidal wave of research on host-associated microbiomes, particularly the gut microbiome. These studies demonstrate numerous connections between the gut microbiome and vital host functions, primarily in humans, model organisms, and domestic animals. As the adaptive importance of the gut microbiome becomes clearer, interest in studying the gut microbiomes of wild populations has increased, in part due to the potential for discovering conservation applications. The study of wildlife gut microbiomes holds many new challenges and opportunities due to the complex genetic, spatial, and environmental structure of wild host populations, and the potential for these factors to interact with the microbiome. The emerging picture of adaptive coevolution in host-microbiome relationships highlights the importance of understanding microbiome variation in the context of host population genetics and landscape heterogeneity across a wide range of host populations. We propose a conceptual framework for understanding wildlife gut microbiomes in relation to landscape variables and host population genetics, including the potential of approaches derived from landscape genetics. We use this framework to review current research, synthesize important trends, highlight implications for conservation, and recommend future directions for research. Specifically, we focus on how spatial structure and environmental variation interact with host population genetics and microbiome variation in natural populations, and what we can learn from how these patterns of covariation differ depending on host ecological and evolutionary traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Couch
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Clinton W Epps
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
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36
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Chiang E, Deblois CL, Carey HV, Suen G. Characterization of captive and wild 13-lined ground squirrel cecal microbiotas using Illumina-based sequencing. Anim Microbiome 2022; 4:1. [PMID: 34980290 PMCID: PMC8722175 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00154-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hibernating animals experience extreme changes in diet that make them useful systems for understanding host-microbial symbioses. However, most of our current knowledge about the hibernator gut microbiota is derived from studies using captive animals. Given that there are substantial differences between captive and wild environments, conclusions drawn from studies with captive hibernators may not reflect the gut microbiota's role in the physiology of wild animals. To address this, we used Illumina-based sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to compare the bacterial cecal microbiotas of captive and wild 13-lined ground squirrels (TLGS) in the summer. As the first study to use Illumina-based technology to compare the microbiotas of an obligate rodent hibernator across the year, we also reported changes in captive TLGS microbiotas in summer, winter, and spring. RESULTS Wild TLGS microbiotas had greater richness and phylogenetic diversity with less variation in beta diversity when compared to captive microbiotas. Taxa identified as core operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and found to significantly contribute to differences in beta diversity were primarily in the families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae. Captive TLGS microbiotas shared phyla and core OTUs across the year, but active season (summer and spring) microbiotas had different alpha and beta diversities than winter season microbiotas. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to compare the microbiotas of captive and wild rodent hibernators. Our findings suggest that data from captive and wild ground squirrels should be interpreted separately due to their distinct microbiotas. Additionally, as the first study to compare seasonal microbiotas of obligate rodent hibernators using Illumina-based 16S rRNA sequencing, we reported changes in captive TLGS microbiotas that are consistent with previous work. Taken together, this study provides foundational information for improving the reproducibility and experimental design of future hibernation microbiota studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edna Chiang
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Courtney L. Deblois
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Hannah V. Carey
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Garret Suen
- Present Address: Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
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37
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OUP accepted manuscript. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6515943. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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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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Weinstein SB, Martínez-Mota R, Stapleton TE, Klure DM, Greenhalgh R, Orr TJ, Dale C, Kohl KD, Dearing MD. Microbiome stability and structure is governed by host phylogeny over diet and geography in woodrats ( Neotoma spp.). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2108787118. [PMID: 34799446 PMCID: PMC8617456 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2108787118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The microbiome is critical for host survival and fitness, but gaps remain in our understanding of how this symbiotic community is structured. Despite evidence that related hosts often harbor similar bacterial communities, it is unclear whether this pattern is due to genetic similarities between hosts or to common ecological selection pressures. Here, using herbivorous rodents in the genus Neotoma, we quantify how geography, diet, and host genetics, alongside neutral processes, influence microbiome structure and stability under natural and captive conditions. Using bacterial and plant metabarcoding, we first characterized dietary and microbiome compositions for animals from 25 populations, representing seven species from 19 sites across the southwestern United States. We then brought wild animals into captivity, reducing the influence of environmental variation. In nature, geography, diet, and phylogeny collectively explained ∼50% of observed microbiome variation. Diet and microbiome diversity were correlated, with different toxin-enriched diets selecting for distinct microbial symbionts. Although diet and geography influenced natural microbiome structure, the effects of host phylogeny were stronger for both wild and captive animals. In captivity, gut microbiomes were altered; however, responses were species specific, indicating again that host genetic background is the most significant predictor of microbiome composition and stability. In captivity, diet effects declined and the effects of host genetic similarity increased. By bridging a critical divide between studies in wild and captive animals, this work underscores the extent to which genetics shape microbiome structure and stability in closely related hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara B Weinstein
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112;
| | - Rodolfo Martínez-Mota
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
- Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, 91000, Mexico
| | - Tess E Stapleton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
| | - Dylan M Klure
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
| | - Robert Greenhalgh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
| | - Teri J Orr
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003
| | - Colin Dale
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
| | - Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
| | - M Denise Dearing
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
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Alberdi A, Martin Bideguren G, Aizpurua O. Diversity and compositional changes in the gut microbiota of wild and captive vertebrates: a meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22660. [PMID: 34811423 PMCID: PMC8608908 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02015-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota is recognised as an essential asset for the normal functioning of animal biology. When wild animals are moved into captivity, the modified environmental pressures are expected to rewire the gut microbiota, yet whether this transition follows similar patterns across vertebrates is still unresolved due to the absence of systematic multi-species analyses. We performed a meta-analysis of gut microbiota profiles of 322 captive and 322 wild specimens from 24 vertebrate species. Our analyses yielded no overall pattern of diversity and compositional variation between wild and captive vertebrates, but a heterogeneous landscape of responses, which differed depending on the components of diversity considered. Captive populations showed enrichment patterns of human-associated microorganisms, and the minimal host phylogenetic signal suggests that changes between wild and captive populations are mainly driven by case-specific captivity conditions. Finally, we show that microbiota differences between wild and captive populations can impact evolutionary and ecological inferences that rely on hierarchical clustering-based comparative analyses of gut microbial communities across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antton Alberdi
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Garazi Martin Bideguren
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ostaizka Aizpurua
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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41
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Nishida AH, Ochman H. Captivity and the co-diversification of great ape microbiomes. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5632. [PMID: 34561432 PMCID: PMC8463570 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25732-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild great apes harbor clades of gut bacteria that are restricted to each host species. Previous research shows the evolutionary relationships among several host-restricted clades mirror those of great-ape species. However, processes such as geographic separation, host-shift speciation, and host-filtering based on diet or gut physiology can generate host-restricted bacterial clades and mimic patterns of co-diversification across host species. To gain insight into the distribution of host-restricted taxa, we examine captive great apes living under conditions where sharing of bacterial strains is readily possible. Here, we show that increased sampling of wild and captive apes identifies additional host-restricted lineages whose relationships are not concordant with the host phylogeny. Moreover, the gut microbiomes of captive apes converge through the displacement of strains that are restricted to their wild conspecifics by human-restricted strains. We demonstrate that host-restricted and co-diversifying bacterial strains in wild apes lack persistence and fidelity in captive environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex H Nishida
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Howard Ochman
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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42
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Bowerman KL, Knowles SCL, Bradley JE, Baltrūnaitė L, Lynch MDJ, Jones KM, Hugenholtz P. Effects of laboratory domestication on the rodent gut microbiome. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2021; 1:49. [PMID: 36747007 PMCID: PMC9723573 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-021-00053-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
The domestication of the laboratory mouse has influenced the composition of its native gut microbiome, which is now known to differ from that of its wild ancestor. However, limited exploration of the rodent gut microbiome beyond the model species Mus musculus has made it difficult to interpret microbiome variation in a broader phylogenetic context. Here, we analyse 120 de novo and 469 public metagenomically-sequenced faecal and caecal samples from 16 rodent hosts representing wild, laboratory and captive lifestyles. Distinct gut bacterial communities were observed between rodent host genera, with broadly distributed species originating from the as-yet-uncultured bacterial genera UBA9475 and UBA2821 in the families Oscillospiraceae and Lachnospiraceae, respectively. In laboratory mice, Helicobacteraceae were generally depleted relative to wild mice and specific Muribaculaceae populations were enriched in different laboratory facilities, suggesting facility-specific outgrowths of this historically dominant rodent gut family. Several bacterial families of clinical interest, including Akkermansiaceae, Streptococcaceae and Enterobacteriaceae, were inferred to have gained over half of their representative species in mice within the laboratory environment, being undetected in most wild rodents and suggesting an association between laboratory domestication and pathobiont emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate L Bowerman
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | | - Kathryn M Jones
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Philip Hugenholtz
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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43
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Martínez-Mota R, Righini N, Mallott EK, Gillespie TR, Amato KR. The relationship between pinworm (Trypanoxyuris) infection and gut bacteria in wild black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra). Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23330. [PMID: 34529285 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Gut bacteria may coexist with other groups of organisms, such as nematode parasites, that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract of primates; however, the possible effects of endoparasites on bacterial communities are frequently overlooked. Here we explored whether infection with Trypanoxyuris, an oxyurid gastrointestinal parasite, is associated with changes in the gut bacterial community of wild black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra), by comparing gut bacterial communities of consistently infected individuals and individuals that never tested positive for Trypanoxyuris throughout different months across the year. We additionally controlled for other sources of variation reported to influence the primate microbiome including individual identity, social group, and seasonality. Trypanoxyuris infection was not related to differences in gut bacterial alpha diversity, but was weakly associated with differences in gut bacterial community structure. In contrast, among the covariates considered, both individual identity and social group were more strongly associated with variation in the howler gut bacterial community. Our results suggest that gastrointestinal parasites may be associated, to some extent, with shifts in the gut bacterial communities hosted by free-ranging primates, although a causal link still needs to be established. Further studies of wild primate hosts infected with parasite species with different pathogenicity are needed to better elucidate health-related consequences from the parasite-microbiome interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo Martínez-Mota
- Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales (CITRO), Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Nicoletta Righini
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Comportamiento Alimentario y Nutrición (IICAN), Universidad de Guadalajara, Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth K Mallott
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Thomas R Gillespie
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Program in Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Katherine R Amato
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
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Sun B, Xia Y, Davison S, Gomez A, Garber PA, Amato KR, Xu X, Xia DP, Wang X, Li JH. Assessing the Influence of Environmental Sources on the Gut Mycobiome of Tibetan Macaques. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:730477. [PMID: 34421885 PMCID: PMC8372991 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.730477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The distribution and availability of microbes in the environment has an important effect on the composition of the gut microbiome of wild vertebrates. However, our current knowledge of gut-environmental interactions is based principally on data from the host bacterial microbiome, rather than on links that establish how and where hosts acquire their gut mycobiome. This complex interaction needs to be clarified. Here, we explored the relationship between the gut fungal communities of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) and the presence of environmental (plant and soil) fungi at two study sites using the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and next generation sequencing. Our findings demonstrate that the gut, plant and soil fungal communities in their natural habitat were distinct. We found that at both study sites, the core abundant taxa and ASVs (Amplicon Sequence Variants) of Tibetan macaques’ gut mycobiome were present in environmental samples (plant, soil or both). However, the majority of these fungi were characterized by a relatively low abundance in the environment. This pattern implies that the ecology of the gut may select for diverse but rare environmental fungi. Moreover, our data indicates that the gut mycobiome of Tibetan macaques was more similar to the mycobiome of their plant diet than that present in the soil. For example, we found three abundant ASVs (Didymella rosea, Cercospora, and Cladosporium) that were present in the gut and on plants, but not in the soil. Our results highlight a relationship between the gut mycobiome of wild primates and environmental fungi, with plants diets possibly contributing more to seeding the macaque’s gut mycobiome than soil fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binghua Sun
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Yingna Xia
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Samuel Davison
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Andres Gomez
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Paul A Garber
- Department of Anthropology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States.,International Centre of Biodiversity and Primate Conservation, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Katherine R Amato
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Xiaojuan Xu
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,School of Life Sciences, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, China
| | - Dong-Po Xia
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Xi Wang
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Jin-Hua Li
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,School of Life Sciences, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, China
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The plant secondary compound swainsonine reshapes gut microbiota in plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae). Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:6419-6433. [PMID: 34402940 PMCID: PMC8403131 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11478-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Plants produce various plant secondary compounds (PSCs) to deter the foraging of herbivorous mammals. However, little is known about whether PSCs can reshape gut microbiota and promote gut homeostasis of hosts. Using 16S rDNA sequencing to investigate the effects of PSCs on the gut microbiota of small herbivorous mammals, we studied plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) fed diets containing swainsonine (SW) extracted from Oxytropis ochrocephala. Our results showed that both long- and short-term treatment of a single artificial diet in the laboratory significantly reduced alpha diversity and significantly affected beta diversity, core bacteria abundance, and bacterial functions in pikas. After SW was added to the artificial diet, the alpha diversity significantly increased in the long-term treatment, and core bacteria (e.g., Akkermansiaceae) with altered relative abundances in the two treatments showed no significant difference compared with pikas in the wild. The complexity of the co-occurrence network structure was reduced in the artificial diet, but it increased after SW was added in both treatments. Further, the abundances of bacteria related to altered alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism in the artificial diet were restored in response to SW. SW further decreased the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in both treatments. Our results suggest that PSCs play a key role in regulating gut microbiota community and intestinal homeostasis, thereby maintaining host health. Key points • Swainsonine improves the intestinal bacterial diversity of plateau pikas. • Swainsonine promotes the recovery of core bacterial abundances in the gut of plateau pikas. • Swainsonine promotes the restoration of intestinal bacterial functions of plateau pikas. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00253-021-11478-6.
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Gut microbiota of frugo-folivorous sifakas across environments. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:39. [PMID: 34006323 PMCID: PMC8132362 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00093-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Captive animals, compared to their wild counterparts, generally harbor imbalanced gut microbiota owing, in part, to their altered diets. This imbalance is particularly striking for folivores that fundamentally rely on gut microbiota for digestion, yet rarely receive sufficient dietary fiber in captivity. We examine the critically endangered Coquerel’s sifaka (Propithecus coquereli), an anatomically specialized, rather than facultative, folivore that consumes a seasonal frugo-folivorous diet in the wild, but is provisioned predominantly with seasonal foliage and orchard vegetables in captivity. Using amplicon and metagenomic sequencing applied to fecal samples collected from two wild and one captive population (each comprising multiple groups), we clarify how dietary variation underlies the perturbational effect of captivity on the structure and function of this species’ gut microbiota. Results The gut microbiota of wild sifakas varied by study population, most notably in community evenness and in the abundance of diet-associated microbes from Prevotellaeceae and Lachnospiraceae. Nevertheless, the differences among wild subjects were minor compared to those evident between wild and captive sifakas: Unusually, the consortia of captive sifakas were the most diverse, but lacked representation of endemic Bacteroidetes and metagenomic capacity for essential amino-acid biosynthesis. Instead, they were enriched for complex fiber metabolizers from the Firmicutes phylum, for archaeal methanogens, and for several metabolic pathways putatively linked to plant fiber and secondary compound metabolism. Conclusions The relatively minor differences in gut microbial structure and function between wild sifaka populations likely reflect regional and/or temporal environmental variability, whereas the major differences observed in captive conspecifics, including the loss of endemic microbes, but gain in low-abundance taxa, likely reflect imbalanced or unstable consortia. Indeed, community perturbation may not necessarily entail decreased community diversity. Moreover, signatures of greater fiber degradation indicate that captive sifakas consume a more fibrous diet compared to their wild counterparts. These results do not mirror those typically reported for folivores and herbivores, suggesting that the direction and strength of captivity-induced ‘dysbiosis’ may not be universal across species with similar feeding strategies. We propose that tailored, species-specific dietary interventions in captivity, aimed at better approximating naturally foraged diets, could functionally ‘rewild’ gut microbiota and facilitate successful management of diverse species. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42523-021-00093-5.
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Sun B, Xia Y, Garber PA, Amato KR, Gomez A, Xu X, Li W, Huang M, Xia D, Wang X, Li J. Captivity Is Associated With Gut Mycobiome Composition in Tibetan Macaques ( Macaca thibetana). Front Microbiol 2021; 12:665853. [PMID: 33936022 PMCID: PMC8085381 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.665853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Although recent studies have revealed that gut fungi may play an important functional role in animal biology and health, little is known concerning the effects of anthropogenic pressures on the gut mycobiome. Here, we examined differences of the gut mycobiome in wild and captive populations of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) targeting the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and using next generation sequencing. Our findings demonstrate that the diversity, composition, and functional guild of the Tibetan macaque gut mycobiome differ across populations living in different habitats. We found that Tibetan macaques translocated from the wild into a captive setting for a period of 1 year, were characterized by a reduction in fungal diversity and an increase in the abundance of potential gut fungal pathogens compared to wild individuals. Furthermore, we found that the relative abundance of two main fungal guilds of plant pathogens and ectomycorrhizal fungi was significantly lower in captive individuals compared to those living in the wild. Our results highlight that, in addition to bacteria, gut fungi vary significantly among individuals living in captive and wild settings. However, given limited data on the functional role that fungi play in the host’s gut, as well as the degree to which a host’s mycobiome is seeded from fungi in the soil or ingested during the consumption of plant and animal foods, controlled studies are needed to better understand the role of the local environment in seeding the mycobiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binghua Sun
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Yingna Xia
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Paul A Garber
- Department of Anthropology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, United States.,International Centre of Biodiversity and Primate Conservation, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Katherine R Amato
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Andres Gomez
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Xiaojuan Xu
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,School of Life Science, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, China
| | - Wenbo Li
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Mingjing Huang
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Dongpo Xia
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,School of Life Science, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Xi Wang
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Jinhua Li
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Anhui University, Hefei, China.,School of Life Science, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, China
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48
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Reese AT, Chadaideh KS, Diggins CE, Schell LD, Beckel M, Callahan P, Ryan R, Emery Thompson M, Carmody RN. Effects of domestication on the gut microbiota parallel those of human industrialization. eLife 2021; 10:60197. [PMID: 33755015 PMCID: PMC7987347 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Domesticated animals experienced profound changes in diet, environment, and social interactions that likely shaped their gut microbiota and were potentially analogous to ecological changes experienced by humans during industrialization. Comparing the gut microbiota of wild and domesticated mammals plus chimpanzees and humans, we found a strong signal of domestication in overall gut microbial community composition and similar changes in composition with domestication and industrialization. Reciprocal diet switches within mouse and canid dyads demonstrated the critical role of diet in shaping the domesticated gut microbiota. Notably, we succeeded in recovering wild-like microbiota in domesticated mice through experimental colonization. Although fundamentally different processes, we conclude that domestication and industrialization have impacted the gut microbiota in related ways, likely through shared ecological change. Our findings highlight the utility, and limitations, of domesticated animal models for human research and the importance of studying wild animals and non-industrialized humans for interrogating signals of host-microbial coevolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aspen T Reese
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Society of Fellows, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Katia S Chadaideh
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Caroline E Diggins
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Laura D Schell
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Mark Beckel
- Wildlife Science Center, Stacy, MN, United States
| | | | - Roberta Ryan
- Wildlife Science Center, Stacy, MN, United States
| | | | - Rachel N Carmody
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
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49
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Quiroga-González C, Cardenas LAC, Ramírez M, Reyes A, González C, Stevenson PR. Monitoring the variation in the gut microbiota of captive woolly monkeys related to changes in diet during a reintroduction process. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6522. [PMID: 33753830 PMCID: PMC7985493 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85990-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbiome is known to play an important role in the health of organisms and different factors such as diet have been associated with modifications in microbial communities. Differences in the microbiota composition of wild and captive animals has been evaluated; however, variation during a reintroduction process in primates has never been reported. Our aim was to identify changes in the bacterial composition of three individuals of reintroduced woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagothricha) and the variables associated with such changes. Fecal samples were collected and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced to determine gut microbial composition and functionality. Individual samples from released individuals showed a higher microbial diversity after being released compared to before liberation, associated with changes in their diet. Beta diversity and functionality analysis showed separation of samples from released and captive conditions and the major factor of variation was the moment of liberation. This study shows that intestinal microbiota varies depending on site conditions and is mainly associated with diet diversity. The intake of food from wild origin by released primates may promote a positive effect on gut microbiota, improving health, and potentially increasing success in reintroduction processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Quiroga-González
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Bosques Tropicales y Primatología (LEBTYP), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Luis Alberto Chica Cardenas
- Grupo de Investigación en Biología Computacional y Ecología Microbiana (BCEM), Max Planck Tandem Research Group in Computational Biology, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Mónica Ramírez
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Bosques Tropicales y Primatología (LEBTYP), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alejandro Reyes
- Grupo de Investigación en Biología Computacional y Ecología Microbiana (BCEM), Max Planck Tandem Research Group in Computational Biology, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Camila González
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Pablo R Stevenson
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Bosques Tropicales y Primatología (LEBTYP), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
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50
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Chen X, Chen H, Liu Q, Ni K, Ding R, Wang J, Wang C. High Plasticity of the Gut Microbiome and Muscle Metabolome of Chinese Mitten Crab ( Eriocheir sinensis) in Diverse Environments. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 31:240-249. [PMID: 33323674 PMCID: PMC9705879 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2011.11018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity is a rapid response mechanism that enables organisms to acclimate and survive in changing environments. The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) survives and thrives in different and even introduced habitats, thereby indicating its high phenotypic plasticity. However, the underpinnings of the high plasticity of E. sinensis have not been comprehensively investigated. In this study, we conducted an integrated gut microbiome and muscle metabolome analysis on E. sinensis collected from three different environments, namely, an artificial pond, Yangcheng Lake, and Yangtze River, to uncover the mechanism of its high phenotypic plasticity. Our study presents three divergent gut microbiotas and muscle metabolic profiles that corresponded to the three environments. The composition and diversity of the core gut microbiota (Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Tenericutes, and Firmicutes) varied among the different environments while the metabolites associated with amino acids, fatty acids, and terpene compounds displayed significantly different concentration levels. The results revealed that the gut microbiome community and muscle metabolome were significantly affected by the habitat environments. Our findings indicate the high phenotypic plasticity in terms of gut microbiome and muscle metabolome of E. sinensis when it faces environmental changes, which would also facilitate its acclimation and adaptation to diverse and even introduced environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Chen
- School of Medicine, Tongji University, 239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China,Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture/National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education/Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 01306, P.R. China
| | - Haihong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture/National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education/Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 01306, P.R. China
| | - Qinghua Liu
- Fusuile Biotechnology Co., Ltd., No. 1999, Beixing Road, Shanghai 202179, P.R. China
| | - Kangda Ni
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture/National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education/Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 01306, P.R. China
| | - Rui Ding
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture/National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education/Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 01306, P.R. China
| | - Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture/National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education/Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 01306, P.R. China,Corresponding authors J.Wang Phone: +86-21-61900439 Fax: +86-21-61900439 E-mail:
| | - Chenghui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture/National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education/Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 01306, P.R. China,C.Wang Phone: +86-21-61900439 Fax: +86-21-61900439 E-mail:
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