Montoya-Ciriaco N, Hereira-Pacheco S, Estrada-Torres A, Dendooven L, Méndez de la Cruz FR, Gómez-Acata ES, Díaz de la Vega-Pérez AH, Navarro-Noya YE. Maternal transmission of bacterial microbiota during embryonic development in a viviparous lizard.
Microbiol Spectr 2023;
11:e0178023. [PMID:
37847033 PMCID:
PMC10714757 DOI:
10.1128/spectrum.01780-23]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE
We investigated the presence and diversity of bacteria in the embryos of the viviparous lizard Sceloporus grammicus and their amniotic environment. We compared this diversity to that found in the maternal intestine, mouth, and cloaca. We detected bacterial DNA in the embryos, albeit with a lower bacterial species diversity than found in maternal tissues. Most of the bacterial species detected in the embryos were also found in the mother, although not all of them. Interestingly, we detected a high similarity in the composition of bacterial species among embryos from different mothers. These findings suggest that there may be a mechanism controlling the transmission of bacteria from the mother to the embryo. Our results highlight the possibility that the interaction between maternal bacteria and the embryo may affect the development of the lizards.
Collapse