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Włodarczyk R, Drzewińska-Chańko J, Kamiński M, Meissner W, Rapczyński J, Janik-Superson K, Krawczyk D, Strapagiel D, Ożarowska A, Stępniewska K, Minias P. Stopover habitat selection drives variation in the gut microbiome composition and pathogen acquisition by migrating shorebirds. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae040. [PMID: 38515294 PMCID: PMC11008731 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-distance host movements play a major regulatory role in shaping microbial communities of their digestive tract. Here, we studied gut microbiota composition during seasonal migration in five shorebird species (Charadrii) that use different migratory (stopover) habitats. Our analyses revealed significant interspecific variation in both composition and diversity of gut microbiome, but the effect of host identity was weak. A strong variation in gut microbiota was observed between coastal and inland (dam reservoir and river valley) stopover habitats within species. Comparisons between host age classes provided support for an increasing alpha diversity of gut microbiota during ontogeny and an age-related remodeling of microbiome composition. There was, however, no correlation between microbiome and diet composition across study species. Finally, we detected high prevalence of avian pathogens, which may cause zoonotic diseases in humans (e.g. Vibrio cholerae) and we identified stopover habitat as one of the major axes of variation in the bacterial pathogen exposure risk in shorebirds. Our study not only sheds new light on ecological processes that shape avian gut microbiota, but also has implications for our better understanding of host-pathogen interface and the role of birds in long-distance transmission of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radosław Włodarczyk
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation,, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
| | - Joanna Drzewińska-Chańko
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation,, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
| | - Maciej Kamiński
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation,, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
| | - Włodzimierz Meissner
- Ornithology Unit, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jan Rapczyński
- Forestry Student Scientific Association, Ornithological Section, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Janik-Superson
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Biobank Lab, Department of Oncobiology and Epigenetics, Pomorska 139, 90-235 Łódź, Poland
| | - Dawid Krawczyk
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
| | - Dominik Strapagiel
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Biobank Lab, Department of Oncobiology and Epigenetics, Pomorska 139, 90-235 Łódź, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Ożarowska
- Ornithology Unit, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Stępniewska
- Ornithology Unit, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Piotr Minias
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation,, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
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Guerrini M, Tanini D, Vannini C, Barbanera F. Wild Avian Gut Microbiome at a Small Spatial Scale: A Study from a Mediterranean Island Population of Alectoris rufa. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3341. [PMID: 37958097 PMCID: PMC10648672 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213341] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This research is one of the few comparative descriptions at an intraspecific level of wild non-passerine microbiomes. We investigated for the first time the gut microbiome of red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) using fecal pellets in order to provide a more informed management. We focused on a small Italian population consisting of two demes (WEST, EAST) separated by about 20 km on the opposite sides of Elba Island. Given the small spatial scale, we set up a sampling protocol to minimize contamination from environmental bacteria, as well as differences due to variations in-among others-habitat, season, and age of feces, that could possibly affect the investigation of the three Elban sites. We found a significant divergence between the WEST and EAST Elban subpopulations in terms of microbial composition and alpha diversity. Although most represented bacterial phyla were the same in all the sites (Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes), microbiomes displayed a much higher diversity in western than in eastern partridges. This result might be related to locally diverging individual physiological needs and/or to different intensities in past releases of captive-bred birds between the two sides of Elba. We suggest that the two subpopulations should be treated as distinct management units.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Claudia Vannini
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via A. Volta 4, 56126 Pisa, Italy (F.B.)
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He Y, Zhang M, Dai C, Yu L. Comparison of the Gut Microbial Communities of Domestic and Wild Mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos) Based on High-Throughput Sequencing Technology. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2956. [PMID: 37760356 PMCID: PMC10525502 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) are currently one of the most popular species in rare bird breeding in several southern provinces of China, but there have been no studies comparing the gut microbial communities of domestic and wild mallards. In this study, 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing technology was used to compare the composition and diversity of gut microbial communities in domestic and wild mallards. Alpha diversity analysis showed significant differences in gut microbial communities between the two groups of mallards, and the diversity and richness of gut microbial communities were significantly higher in wild mallards than in domestic mallards. Beta diversity analysis showed that the two groups of stool samples were mostly separated on the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) plot. In domestic mallards, Firmicutes (68.0% ± 26.5%) was the most abundant bacterial phylum, followed by Proteobacteria (24.5% ± 22.9%), Bacteroidetes (3.1% ± 3.2%), Fusobacteria (2.2% ± 5.9%), and Actinobacteria (1.1% ± 1.8%). The dominant bacterial phyla in wild mallards were Firmicutes (79.0% ± 10.2%), Proteobacteria (12.9% ± 9.5%), Fusobacteria (3.4% ± 2.5%), and Bacteroidetes (2.8% ± 2.4%). At the genus level, a total of 10 dominant genera (Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Clostridium, Lactobacillus, Soilbacillus, Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Comamonas, Shigella, and Cetobacterium) with an average relative abundance greater than 1% were detected in the fecal samples of both groups. The average relative abundance of five potential pathogenic genera (Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Acinetobacter, Comamonas, and Shigella) was higher in domestic mallards than in wild mallards. The enrichment of pathogenic bacteria in the intestinal tract of domestic mallards should be of sufficient concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoyin He
- Animal Science and Technology College, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (Y.H.); (M.Z.)
| | - Minghui Zhang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (Y.H.); (M.Z.)
| | - Chuanyin Dai
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin 541006, China;
| | - Lijiang Yu
- Animal Science and Technology College, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (Y.H.); (M.Z.)
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García-Amado MA, Rudolf CA, Fuentes-Fuentes MDM, Chorna N, Martínez LM, Godoy-Vitorino F. Bacterial composition along the digestive tract of the Horned Screamer ( Anhima cornuta), a tropical herbivorous bird. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14805. [PMID: 36815987 PMCID: PMC9933741 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Horned Screamer (Anhima cornuta) is an herbivorous bird that inhabits wetlands of the South American tropical region. We hypothesize that due to its herbivorous niche, its digestive tract compartments may have bacteria specialized in fermenting complex plant carbohydrates. To test this hypothesis, we compared the bacterial communities along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of a Horned Screamer captured in Venezuela. Methods Samples were taken from tissues and content of the proventriculus and the small intestine (considered for this study as upper GIT), and the large intestine and cecum (lower GIT). The bacterial community was characterized by sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Bioinformatic analysis was performed using QIIME, QIITA and Microbiome Analyst. The association between microbial taxonomy and function was analyzed using their Greengenes OTU IDs and a custom KEGG BRITE hierarchical tree and visualized with BURRITO. Results The Screamer's gastrointestinal microbiota was composed by seven phyla being Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes the most predominant. The dominant taxa in the upper GIT were Helicobacter, Vibrio, Enterobacter, Acinetobacter and Staphylococcus. The dominant taxa in the lower GIT were Oribacterium, Blautia, Roseburia, Ruminococcus, Desulfovibrio, Intestinimonas, Marvinbryantia and Parabacteroides. Complete degradation of cellulose to the end-products acetate, propanoate, butanoate and acetoacetate was found in the upper and lower GIT without significant differences. Conclusion Our study confirmed changes in bacterial community composition throughout the GIT of the Horned Screamer primarily associated with the production of metabolic end-products of carbohydrate digestion essential for the fermentation of the herbivorous diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Alexandra García-Amado
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Gastrointestinal, Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Miranda, Venezuela
| | - Carla A. Rudolf
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Gastrointestinal, Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Miranda, Venezuela
| | | | - Nataliya Chorna
- Biochemistry Department, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, PR, Puerto Rico
| | | | - Filipa Godoy-Vitorino
- Microbiology Department, University of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Gil JC, Hird SM. Multiomics Characterization of the Canada Goose Fecal Microbiome Reveals Selective Efficacy of Simulated Metagenomes. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0238422. [PMID: 36318011 PMCID: PMC9769641 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02384-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
16S rRNA amplicon sequences are predominantly used to identify the taxonomic composition of a microbiome, but they can also be used to generate simulated metagenomes to circumvent costly empirical shotgun sequencing. The effectiveness of using "simulated metagenomes" (shotgun metagenomes simulated from 16S rRNA amplicons using a database of full genomes closely related to the amplicons) in nonmodel systems is poorly known. We sought to determine the accuracy of simulated metagenomes in a nonmodel organism, the Canada goose (Branta canadensis), by comparing metagenomes and metatranscriptomes to simulated metagenomes derived from 16S amplicon sequencing. We found significant differences between the metagenomes, metatranscriptomes, and simulated metagenomes when comparing enzymes, KEGG orthologies (KO), and metabolic pathways. The simulated metagenomes accurately identified the majority (>70%) of the total enzymes, KOs, and pathways. The simulated metagenomes accurately identified the majority of the short-chain fatty acid metabolic pathways crucial to folivores. When narrowed in scope to specific genes of interest, the simulated metagenomes overestimated the number of antimicrobial resistance genes and underestimated the number of genes related to the breakdown of plant matter. Our results suggest that simulated metagenomes should not be used in lieu of empirical sequencing when studying the functional potential of a nonmodel organism's microbiome. Regarding the function of the Canada goose microbiome, we found unexpected amounts of fermentation pathways, and we found that a few taxa are responsible for large portions of the functional potential of the microbiome. IMPORTANCE The taxonomic composition of a microbiome is predominately identified using amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, but as a single marker, it cannot identify functions (genes). Metagenome and metatranscriptome sequencing can determine microbiome function but can be cost prohibitive. Therefore, computational methods have been developed to generate simulated metagenomes derived from 16S rRNA sequences and databases of full-length genomes. Simulated metagenomes can be an effective alternative to empirical sequencing, but accuracy depends on the genomic database used and whether the database contains organisms closely related to the 16S sequences. These tools are effective in well-studied systems, but the accuracy of these predictions in a nonmodel system is less known. Using a nonmodel bird species, we characterized the function of the microbiome and compared the accuracy of 16S-derived simulated metagenomes to sequenced metagenomes. We found that the simulated metagenomes reflect most but not all functions of empirical metagenome sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua C. Gil
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sarah M. Hird
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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Haque R, Das II, Sawant PB, Chadha NK, Sahoo L, Kumar R, Sundaray JK. Tenets in Microbial Endocrinology: A New Vista in Teleost Reproduction. Front Physiol 2022; 13:871045. [PMID: 36035477 PMCID: PMC9411670 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.871045] [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: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate vulnerability and induced changes in physico-chemical properties of aquatic environment can bring impairment in metabolism, physiology and reproduction in teleost. Variation in environmental stimuli mainly acts on reproduction by interfering with steroidogenesis, gametogenesis and embryogenesis. The control on reproductive function in captivity is essential for the sustainability of aquaculture production. There are more than 3,000 teleost species across the globe having commercial importance; however, adequate quality and quantity of seed production have been the biggest bottleneck. Probiotics are widely used in aquaculture as a growth promoter, stress tolerance, pathogen inhibition, nutrient digestibility and metabolism, reproductive performance and gamete quality. As the gut microbiota exerts various effects on the intestinal milieu which influences distant organs and pathways, therefore it is considered to be a full-fledged endocrine organ. Researches on Gut-Brain-Gonad axis (GBG axis) and its importance on physiology and reproduction have already been highlighted for higher mammals; however, the study on fish physiology and reproduction is limited. While looking into the paucity of information, we have attempted to review the present status of microbiome and its interaction between the brain and gut. This review will address a process of the microbiome physiological mechanism involved in fish reproduction. The gut microbiota influences the BPG axis through a wide variety of compounds, including neuropeptides, neurotransmitter homologs and transmitters. Currently, research is being conducted to determine the precise process by which gut microbial composition influences brain function in fish. The gut-brain bidirectional interaction can influence brain biochemistry such as GABA, serotonin and tryptophan metabolites which play significant roles in CNS regulation. This review summarizes the fact, how microbes from gut, skin and other parts of the body influence fish reproduction through the Gut-Brain-Gonad axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramjanul Haque
- Division of Aquaculture, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India
| | - Ipsita Iswari Das
- Fish Genetics and Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, India
| | | | - Narinder Kumar Chadha
- Division of Aquaculture, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India
| | - Lakshman Sahoo
- Fish Genetics and Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Aquaculture Production and Environment Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Jitendra Kumar Sundaray
- Fish Genetics and Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, India
- *Correspondence: Jitendra Kumar Sundaray,
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Sun F, Chen J, Liu K, Tang M, Yang Y. The avian gut microbiota: Diversity, influencing factors, and future directions. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:934272. [PMID: 35992664 PMCID: PMC9389168 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.934272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota is viewed as the “second genome” of animals, sharing intricate relationships with their respective hosts. Because the gut microbial community and its diversity are affected by many intrinsic and extrinsic factors, studying intestinal microbes has become an important research topic. However, publications are dominated by studies on domestic or captive birds, while research on the composition and response mechanism of environmental changes in the gut microbiota of wild birds remains scarce. Therefore, it is important to understand the co-evolution of host and intestinal bacteria under natural conditions to elucidate the diversity, maintenance mechanisms, and functions of gut microbes in wild birds. Here, the existing knowledge of gut microbiota in captive and wild birds is summarized, along with previous studies on the composition and function, research methods employed, and factors influencing the avian gut microbial communities. Furthermore, research hotspots and directions were also discussed to identify the dynamics of the avian gut microbiota, aiming to contribute to studies of avian microbiology in the future.
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West AG, DeLaunay A, Marsh P, Perry EK, Jolly M, Gartrell BD, Pas A, Digby A, Taylor MW. Gut microbiota of the threatened takahē: biogeographic patterns and conservation implications. Anim Microbiome 2022; 4:11. [PMID: 35078539 PMCID: PMC8790836 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00158-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Aotearoa New Zealand takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri), once thought to be extinct, is a nationally threatened flightless rail under intensive conservation management. While there has been previous research into disease-related microbes in takahē, little is known about the microbes present in the gastrointestinal tract. Given the importance of gut-associated microbes to herbivore nutrition and immunity, knowledge of these communities is likely to be of considerable conservation value. Here we examined the gut microbiotas of 57 takahē at eight separate locations across Aotearoa New Zealand. RESULTS Faecal samples, taken as a proxy for the hindgut bacterial community, were subjected to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing using Illumina MiSeq. Phylogenetic analysis of > 2200 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) revealed nine main bacterial phyla (Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, Campilobacterota, Firmicutes, Fusobacteriota, Planctomycetota, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobiota) that accounted for the majority of sequence reads. Location was a significant effect (p value < 0.001, 9999 permutations) that accounted for 32% of the observed microbiota variation. One ASV, classified as Lactobacillus aviarius, was present in all samples at an average relative abundance of 17% (SD = 23.20). There was strong evidence (p = 0.002) for a difference in the abundance of the genus Lactobacillus between locations. A common commensal bacterium previously described in takahē, Campylobacter spp., was also detected in most faecal samples. CONCLUSIONS Location plays a pivotal role in the observed variation among takahē gut bacterial communities and is potentially due to factors such as supplemental feeding and medical treatment experienced by birds housed in captivity at one of the eight sampled sites. These data present a first glimpse of the previously unexplored takahē gut microbiota and provide a baseline for future microbiological studies and conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie G West
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Anne DeLaunay
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Phil Marsh
- Takahē Recovery Programme, Department of Conservation, Lakefront Drive, Te Anau, New Zealand
| | - Elena K Perry
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Megan Jolly
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Brett D Gartrell
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - An Pas
- New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine, Auckland Zoo, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrew Digby
- Takahē Recovery Programme, Department of Conservation, Lakefront Drive, Te Anau, New Zealand
| | - Michael W Taylor
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
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Lu Z, Li S, Li H, Wang Z, Meng D, Liu J. The gut microbiota of wild wintering great bustard ( Otis tarda dybowskii): survey data from two consecutive years. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12562. [PMID: 34909281 PMCID: PMC8641483 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The composition of the intestinal microbiota plays a significant role in modulating host health. It serves as a sensitive evaluation indicator and has substantial implications in protecting endangered species. Great Bustards are typical farmland-dependent wintering birds that are highly susceptible to the interference of human activities. However, information regarding their gut microbiota remains scarce. Methods To ensure a comprehensive analysis of this crucial data, we collected fecal samples from wild Great Bustards at their wintering habitat for two consecutive years. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was subsequently applied to characterize their core gut microbiota and determine whether the gut microbial composition was similar or varied interannually. Results The gut microbiota of the Great Bustard was primarily comprised of four phyla: Firmicutes (82.87%), Bacteroidetes (7.98%), Proteobacteria (4.49%), and Actinobacteria (3.67%), accounting for 99.01% of the microbial community in all samples. Further analysis revealed 22 genera of core microbes and several pathogens. Notably, there were no significant differences in the alpha-diversity and beta-diversity between the two sample groups from different years. Conclusions This study provides essential information for assessing the health and developing targeted protective measures of this threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Lu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China.,College of Life Sciences, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou, China
| | - Sisi Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Hebei Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Conservation, Hengshui, China
| | - Hongxia Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zhucheng Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou, China
| | - Derong Meng
- College of Life Sciences, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou, China
| | - Jingze Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
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Jiang D, He X, Valitutto M, Chen L, Xu Q, Yao Y, Hou R, Wang H. Gut microbiota composition and metabolomic profiles of wild and captive Chinese monals (Lophophorus lhuysii). Front Zool 2020; 17:36. [PMID: 33292307 PMCID: PMC7713318 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-020-00381-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Chinese monal (Lophophorus lhuysii) is an endangered bird species, with a wild population restricted to the mountains in southwest China, and only one known captive population in the world. We investigated the fecal microbiota and metabolome of wild and captive Chinese monals to explore differences and similarities in nutritional status and digestive characteristics. An integrated approach combining 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene sequencing and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) based metabolomics were used to examine the fecal microbiota composition and the metabolomic profile of Chinese monals. RESULTS The results showed that the alpha diversity of gut microbes in the wild group were significantly higher than that in the captive group and the core bacterial taxa in the two groups showed remarkable differences at phylum, class, order, and family levels. Metabolomic profiling also revealed differences, mainly related to galactose, starch and sucrose metabolism, fatty acid, bile acid biosynthesis and bile secretion. Furthermore, strong correlations between metabolite types and bacterial genus were detected. CONCLUSIONS There were remarkable differences in the gut microbiota composition and metabolomic profile between wild and captive Chinese monals. This study has established a baseline for a normal gut microbiota and metabolomic profile for wild Chinese monals, thus allowing us to evaluate if differences seen in captive organisms have an impact on their overall health and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Jiang
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, 610081, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China
- Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, Chengdu, 610081, China
| | - Xin He
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, 610081, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China
- Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, Chengdu, 610081, China
| | - Marc Valitutto
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, 610081, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China
- Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, Chengdu, 610081, China
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, 10012, USA
| | - Li Chen
- Sichuan Fengtongzhai National Nature reserve administration, Yaan, 625700, China
| | - Qin Xu
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, 610081, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China
- Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, Chengdu, 610081, China
| | - Ying Yao
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, 610081, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China
- Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, Chengdu, 610081, China
| | - Rong Hou
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, 610081, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China
- Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, Chengdu, 610081, China
| | - Hairui Wang
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, 610081, China.
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu, 610081, China.
- Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, Chengdu, 610081, China.
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Paranjape K, Bédard É, Shetty D, Hu M, Choon FCP, Prévost M, Faucher SP. Unravelling the importance of the eukaryotic and bacterial communities and their relationship with Legionella spp. ecology in cooling towers: a complex network. MICROBIOME 2020; 8:157. [PMID: 33183356 PMCID: PMC7664032 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00926-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cooling towers are a major source of large community-associated outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease, a severe pneumonia. This disease is contracted when inhaling aerosols that are contaminated with bacteria from the genus Legionella, most importantly Legionella pneumophila. How cooling towers support the growth of this bacterium is still not well understood. As Legionella species are intracellular parasites of protozoa, it is assumed that protozoan community in cooling towers play an important role in Legionella ecology and outbreaks. However, the exact mechanism of how the eukaryotic community contributes to Legionella ecology is still unclear. Therefore, we used 18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to characterize the eukaryotic communities of 18 different cooling towers. The data from the eukaryotic community was then analysed with the bacterial community of the same towers in order to understand how each community could affect Legionella spp. ecology in cooling towers. RESULTS We identified several microbial groups in the cooling tower ecosystem associated with Legionella spp. that suggest the presence of a microbial loop in these systems. Dissolved organic carbon was shown to be a major factor in shaping the eukaryotic community and may be an important factor for Legionella ecology. Network analysis, based on co-occurrence, revealed that Legionella was correlated with a number of different organisms. Out of these, the bacterial genus Brevundimonas and the ciliate class Oligohymenophorea were shown, through in vitro experiments, to stimulate the growth of L. pneumophila through direct and indirect mechanisms. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that Legionella ecology depends on the host community, including ciliates and on several groups of organisms that contribute to its survival and growth in the cooling tower ecosystem. These findings further support the idea that some cooling tower microbiomes may promote the survival and growth of Legionella better than others. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Paranjape
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Émilie Bédard
- Department of Civil Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Deeksha Shetty
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Mengqi Hu
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Fiona Chan Pak Choon
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Michèle Prévost
- Department of Civil Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sébastien P Faucher
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada.
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12
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Capunitan DC, Johnson O, Terrill RS, Hird SM. Evolutionary signal in the gut microbiomes of 74 bird species from Equatorial Guinea. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:829-847. [PMID: 31943484 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
How the microbiome interacts with hosts across evolutionary time is poorly understood. Data sets including many host species are required to conduct comparative analyses. Here, we analyzed 142 intestinal microbiome samples from 92 birds belonging to 74 species from Equatorial Guinea, using the 16S rRNA gene. Using four definitions for microbial taxonomic units (97%OTU, 99%OTU, 99%OTU with singletons removed, ASV), we conducted alpha and beta diversity analyses. We found that raw abundances and diversity varied between the data sets but relative patterns were largely consistent across data sets. Host taxonomy, diet and locality were significantly associated with microbiomes, at generally similar levels using three distance metrics. Phylogenetic comparative methods assessed the evolutionary relationship between the microbiome as a trait of a host species and the underlying bird phylogeny. Using multiple ways of defining "microbiome traits", we found that a neutral Brownian motion model did not explain variation in microbiomes. Instead, we found a White Noise model (indicating little phylogenetic signal), was most likely. There was some support for the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model (that invokes selection), but the level of support was similar to that of a White Noise simulation, further supporting the White Noise model as the best explanation for the evolution of the microbiome as a trait of avian hosts. Our study demonstrated that both environment and evolution play a role in the gut microbiome and the relationship does not follow a neutral model; these biological results are qualitatively robust to analytical choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darien C Capunitan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Oscar Johnson
- Museum of Natural Science, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Ryan S Terrill
- Museum of Natural Science, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.,Moore Laboratory of Zoology, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sarah M Hird
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.,Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
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13
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The C-Type Lysozyme from the upper Gastrointestinal Tract of Opisthocomus hoatzin, the Stinkbird. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225531. [PMID: 31698762 PMCID: PMC6887759 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Muramidases/lysozymes are important bio-molecules, which cleave the glycan backbone in the peptidoglycan polymer found in bacterial cell walls. The glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 22 C-type lysozyme, from the folivorous bird Opisthocomus hoazin (stinkbird), was expressed in Aspergillus oryzae, and a set of variants was produced. All variants were enzymatically active, including those designed to probe key differences between the Hoatzin enzyme and Hen Egg White lysozyme. Four variants showed improved thermostability at pH 4.7, compared to the wild type. The X-ray structure of the enzyme was determined in the apo form and in complex with chitin oligomers. Bioinformatic analysis of avian GH22 amino acid sequences showed that they separate out into three distinct subgroups (chicken-like birds, sea birds and other birds). The Hoatzin is found in the "other birds" group and we propose that this represents a new cluster of avian upper-gut enzymes.
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14
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Wang W, Zheng S, Li L, Yang Y, Liu Y, Wang A, Sharshov K, Li Y. Comparative metagenomics of the gut microbiota in wild greylag geese (Anser anser) and ruddy shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea). Microbiologyopen 2018; 8:e00725. [PMID: 30296008 PMCID: PMC6528571 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiome contributes to host health by maintaining homeostasis, increasing digestive efficiency, and facilitating the development of immune system. Wild greylag geese (Anser anser) and ruddy shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea), migrating along the central Asian flyway, appear to be one of the most popular species in the rare birds rearing industries of China. However, the structure and function of the gut microbial communities associated with these two bird species remain poorly understood. Here, for the first time, we compared gut metagenomes from greylag geese to ruddy shelducks and investigated the similarities and differences between these two bird species in detail. Taxonomic classifications revealed the top three bacterial phyla, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Fusobacteria, in both greylag geese and ruddy shelducks. Furthermore, between the two species, 12 bacterial genera were found to be more abundant in ruddy shelducks and 41 genera were significantly higher in greylag geese. A total of 613 genera (approximately 70%) were found to be present in both groups. Metabolic categories related to carbohydrate metabolism, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and glycan biosynthesis and metabolism were significantly more abundant in ruddy shelducks, while greylag geese were enriched in nucleotide metabolism and energy metabolism. The herbivorous greylag geese gut microbiota harbored more carbohydrate‐active enzymes than omnivorous ruddy shelducks. In our study, a range of antibiotic resistance categories were also identified in the gut microbiota of greylag geese and ruddy shelducks. In addition to providing a better understanding of the composition and function of wild birds gut microbiome, this comparative study provides reference values of the artificial domestication of these birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xi'ning, Qinghai, China
| | - Sisi Zheng
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'ning, Qinghai, China
| | - Laixing Li
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'ning, Qinghai, China
| | - Yongsheng Yang
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'ning, Qinghai, China
| | - Yingbao Liu
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
| | - Aizhen Wang
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xi'ning, Qinghai, China
| | - Kirill Sharshov
- Research Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yao Li
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xi'ning, Qinghai, China
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15
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Teyssier A, Lens L, Matthysen E, White J. Dynamics of Gut Microbiota Diversity During the Early Development of an Avian Host: Evidence From a Cross-Foster Experiment. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1524. [PMID: 30038608 PMCID: PMC6046450 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the increasing knowledge on the processes involved in the acquisition and development of the gut microbiota in model organisms, the factors influencing early microbiota successions in natural populations remain poorly understood. In particular, little is known on the role of the rearing environment in the establishment of the gut microbiota in wild birds. Here, we examined the influence of the nesting environment on the gut microbiota of Great tits (Parus major) by performing a partial cross-fostering experiment during the intermediate stage of nestling development. We found that the cloacal microbiota of great tit nestlings underwent substantial changes between 8 and 15 days of age, with a strong decrease in diversity, an increase in the relative abundance of Firmicutes and a shift in the functional features of the community. Second, the nesting environment significantly influenced community composition, with a divergence among separated true siblings and a convergence among foster siblings. Third, larger shifts in both microbiota diversity and composition correlated with lower nestling body condition. Our results shed new light on the dynamics of microbial diversity during the ontogeny of avian hosts, indicating that the nest environment continues to shape the gut microbiota during the later stages of nestling development and that the increase in gut diversity between hatching and adulthood may not be as linear as previously suspected. Lastly, the microbiota changes incurred during this period may have implications for nestling body condition which can lead to long-term consequences for host fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimeric Teyssier
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique–Université Paul Sabatier–Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Toulouse, France
| | - Luc Lens
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Erik Matthysen
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Joël White
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique–Université Paul Sabatier–Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Toulouse, France
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16
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Dearing MD, Kohl KD. Beyond Fermentation: Other Important Services Provided to Endothermic Herbivores by their Gut Microbiota. Integr Comp Biol 2018; 57:723-731. [PMID: 28662572 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icx020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, comparative biologists have recognized the importance of microbial partners in facilitating herbivory as a successful feeding strategy. Most of this success is attributed to the ability of gut microbes to digest recalcitrant dietary fiber and provides usable nutrients to their hosts. Gut microbes can also provide numerous other functions, such as vitamin synthesis, nitrogen recycling, and the detoxification of plant secondary compounds. Here, we review these microbial functions in herbivorous mammals and birds, highlighting studies that utilize recently developed metagenomic techniques. Several of these studies emphasize that microbial services are the product of interactions and exchanges within a complex microbial community, rather than the product of an individual member. Additionally, a number of these microbial functions are interdependent. For example, levels of dietary nitrogen or plant toxins can influence fiber digestibility. Further studies into the variety of microbial services provided to herbivorous hosts, and how these services might interact will broaden our understanding of host-microbe interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Denise Dearing
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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17
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Rosenberg E, Zilber-Rosenberg I. The hologenome concept of evolution after 10 years. MICROBIOME 2018; 6:78. [PMID: 29695294 PMCID: PMC5922317 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-018-0457-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The holobiont (host with its endocellular and extracellular microbiome) can function as a distinct biological entity, an additional organismal level to the ones previously considered, on which natural selection operates. The holobiont can function as a whole: anatomically, metabolically, immunologically, developmentally, and during evolution. Consideration of the holobiont with its hologenome as an independent level of selection in evolution has led to a better understanding of underappreciated modes of genetic variation and evolution. The hologenome is comprised of two complimentary parts: host and microbiome genomes. Changes in either genome can result in variations that can be selected for or against. The host genome is highly conserved, and genetic changes within it occur slowly, whereas the microbiome genome is dynamic and can change rapidly in response to the environment by increasing or reducing particular microbes, by acquisition of novel microbes, by horizontal gene transfer, and by mutation. Recent experiments showing that microbiota can play an initial role in speciation have been suggested as an additional mode of enhancing evolution. Some of the genetic variations can be transferred to offspring by a variety of mechanisms. Strain-specific DNA analysis has shown that at least some of the microbiota can be maintained across hundreds of thousands of host generations, implying the existence of a microbial core. We argue that rapid changes in the microbiome genome could allow holobionts to adapt and survive under changing environmental conditions thus providing the time necessary for the host genome to adapt and evolve. As Darwin wrote, "It is not the strongest of the species that survives but the most adaptable".
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Rosenberg
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel
| | - Ilana Zilber-Rosenberg
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel
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18
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Spergser J, Loncaric I, Tichy A, Fritz J, Scope A. The cultivable autochthonous microbiota of the critically endangered Northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195255. [PMID: 29617453 PMCID: PMC5884550 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The critically endangered Northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita) is a migratory bird that became extinct in Europe centuries ago. Since 2014, the Northern bald ibis is subject to an intensive rehabilitation and conservation regime aiming to reintroduce the bird in its original distribution range in Central Europe and concurrently to maintain bird health and increase population size. Hitherto, virtually nothing is known about the microbial communities associated with the ibis species; an information pivotal for the veterinary management of these birds. Hence, the present study was conducted to provide a baseline description of the cultivable microbiota residing in the Northern bald ibis. Samples derived from the choana, trachea, crop and cloaca were examined employing a culturomic approach in order to identify microbes at each sampling site and to compare their frequency among age classes, seasonal appearances and rearing types. In total, 94 microbial species including 14 potentially new bacterial taxa were cultivated from the Northern bald ibis with 36, 58 and 59 bacterial species isolated from the choana, crop and cloaca, respectively. The microbiota of the Northern bald ibis was dominated by members of the phylum Firmicutes, followed by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria, altogether phylotypes commonly observed within avian gut environments. Differences in relative abundances of various microbial taxa were evident among sample types indicating mucosa-specific colonisation properties and tissue tropism. Besides, results of the present study indicate that the composition of microbiota was also affected by age, season (environment) and rearing type. While the prevalence of traditional pathogenic microbial species was extremely low, several opportunists including Clostridium perfringens toxotype A were frequently present in samples indicating that the Northern bald ibis may represent an important animal reservoir for these pathogens. In summary, the presented study provides a first inventory of the cultivable microbiota residing in the critically endangered Northern bald ibis and represents a first step in a wider investigation of the ibis microbiome with the ultimate goal to contribute to the management and survival of this critically endangered bird.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Spergser
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
| | - Igor Loncaric
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Tichy
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Platform, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Alexandra Scope
- Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, Department/Clinic for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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19
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Perry EK, Digby A, Taylor MW. The Low-Diversity Fecal Microbiota of the Critically Endangered Kākāpō Is Robust to Anthropogenic Dietary and Geographic Influences. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2033. [PMID: 29104565 PMCID: PMC5655120 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The critically endangered kākāpō, an herbivorous parrot endemic to New Zealand, is subject to intensive management to increase its population size. Key aspects of the management program include supplementary feeding and translocation of kākāpō between different predator-free islands to optimize the genetic composition of the breeding populations. While these practices have helped boost the kākāpō population, their impact on the kākāpō fecal microbiota is uncertain. Previous studies have found that the kākāpō possesses a low-diversity fecal microbiota, typically dominated by Escherichia/Shigella spp. However, the question of whether the low diversity of the kākāpō fecal microbiota is an inadvertent consequence of human interventions has yet to be investigated. To that end, we used high-throughput Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons obtained from fecal material of 63 kākāpō representing different diets, islands, and ages. Remarkably, neither supplementary feeding nor geographic location were associated with significant differences in the overall fecal microbial community structures of adult kākāpō, suggesting that the kākāpō's low-diversity fecal microbiota is both inherent to this species and robust to these external influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena K Perry
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrew Digby
- Kākāpō Recovery Programme, Department of Conservation, Invercargill, New Zealand
| | - Michael W Taylor
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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20
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Abstract
The microbiome is a vital component to the evolution of a host and much of what we know about the microbiome derives from studies on humans and captive animals. But captivity alters the microbiome and mammals have unique biological adaptations that affect their microbiomes (e.g., milk). Birds represent over 30% of known tetrapod diversity and possess their own suite of adaptations relevant to the microbiome. In a previous study, we showed that 59 species of birds displayed immense variation in their microbiomes and host (bird) taxonomy and ecology were most correlated with the gut microbiome. In this Frontiers Focused Review, I put those results in a broader context by discussing how collecting and analyzing wild microbiomes contributes to the main goals of evolutionary biology and the specific ways that birds are unique microbial hosts. Finally, I outline some of the methodological considerations for adding microbiome sampling to the research of wild animals and urge researchers to do so. To truly understand the evolution of a host, we need to understand the millions of microorganisms that inhabit it as well: evolutionary biology needs wild microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Hird
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT, USA
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21
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Bardele CF, Schultheiß S, Lynn DH, Wright ADG, Dominguez-Bello MG, Obispo NE. Aviisotricha hoazini n. gen., n. sp., the Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of an Anaerobic Ciliate from the Crop of the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin), the Cow Among the Birds. Protist 2017; 168:335-351. [PMID: 28554152 DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Revised: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The hoatzin is the only known avian species that has evolved a foregut fermentation system similar to that of ruminant animals. Due to the closeness of the bird's fermentation chamber, the crop, to the bird's beak it exudes an unpleasant odour; therefore, the hoatzin is called the "cow among the birds". In addition to Eubacteria and Archaea, responsible for digestion of the vegetation they consume, the bird's crop contains a holotrich ciliate, described here for the first time in detail. Cytological staining of this isotrichid-like ciliate with the Chatton-Lwoff and Protargol staining procedures, as well as SEM and TEM, justified the establishment of the new genus Aviisotricha n. gen. with its new type species Aviisotricha hoazini n. gen., n. sp.. Phylogenetic analyses of a portion of the small subunit rRNA gene supported the taxonomic placement of this new genus and species in the family Isotrichidae. Aviisotricha is compared with Balantidium, Dasytricha and Isotricha with special reference to their dorsal brushes, which show similarity to the paralabial organelle of the Entodiniomorphida. The possible phylogenetic origin of Aviisotricha is discussed and a taxonomic revision of the family Isotrichidae is given.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sigrid Schultheiß
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Denis H Lynn
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - André-Denis G Wright
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Nestor E Obispo
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas, Aragua, Venezuela
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22
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Bacterial and Archaeal Diversity in the Gastrointestinal Tract of the North American Beaver (Castor canadensis). PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156457. [PMID: 27227334 PMCID: PMC4881982 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) is the second largest living rodent and an iconic symbol of Canada. The beaver is a semi-aquatic browser whose diet consists of lignocellulose from a variety of plants. The beaver is a hindgut fermenter and has an enlarged ceacum that houses a complex microbiome. There have been few studies examining the microbial diversity in gastrointestinal tract of hindgut fermenting herbivores. To examine the bacterial and archaeal communities inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract of the beaver, the microbiome of the ceacum and feaces was examined using culture-independent methods. DNA from the microbial community of the ceacum and feaces of 4 adult beavers was extracted, and the16S rRNA gene was sequenced using either bacterial or archaeal specific primers. A total of 1447 and 1435 unique bacterial OTUs were sequenced from the ceacum and feaces, respectively. On average, the majority of OTUs within the ceacum were classified as Bacteroidetes (49.2%) and Firmicutes (47.6%). The feaces was also dominated by OTUs from Bacteroidetes (36.8%) and Firmicutes (58.9%). The composition of bacterial community was not significantly different among animals. The composition of the ceacal and feacal microbiome differed, but this difference is due to changes in the abundance of closely related OTUs, not because of major differences in the taxonomic composition of the communities. Within these communities, known degraders of lignocellulose were identified. In contrast, to the bacterial microbiome, the archaeal community was dominated by a single species of methanogen, Methanosphaera stadtmanae. The data presented here provide the first insight into the microbial community within the hindgut of the beaver.
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23
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Aira M, Bybee S, Pérez-Losada M, Domínguez J. Feeding on microbiomes: effects of detritivory on the taxonomic and phylogenetic bacterial composition of animal manures. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2015; 91:fiv117. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiv117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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24
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Waite DW, Taylor MW. Exploring the avian gut microbiota: current trends and future directions. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:673. [PMID: 26191057 PMCID: PMC4490257 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Birds represent a diverse and evolutionarily successful lineage, occupying a wide range of niches throughout the world. Like all vertebrates, avians harbor diverse communities of microorganisms within their guts, which collectively fulfill crucial roles in providing the host with nutrition and protection from pathogens. Across the field of avian microbiology knowledge is extremely uneven, with several species accounting for an overwhelming majority of all microbiological investigations. These include agriculturally important birds, such as chickens and turkeys, as well as birds of evolutionary or conservation interest. In our previous study we attempted the first meta-analysis of the avian gut microbiota, using 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from a range of publicly available data sets. We have now extended our analysis to explore the microbiology of several key species in detail, to consider the avian microbiota within the context of what is known about other vertebrates, and to identify key areas of interest in avian microbiology for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael W. Taylor
- Centre for Microbial Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of AucklandAuckland, New Zealand
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25
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Field W, Hershberg R. Alarmingly High Segregation Frequencies of Quinolone Resistance Alleles within Human and Animal Microbiomes Are Not Explained by Direct Clinical Antibiotic Exposure. Genome Biol Evol 2015; 7:1743-57. [PMID: 26019163 PMCID: PMC4494058 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evv102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance poses a major threat to human health. It is therefore important to characterize the frequency of resistance within natural bacterial environments. Many studies have focused on characterizing the frequencies with which horizontally acquired resistance genes segregate within natural bacterial populations. Yet, very little is currently understood regarding the frequency of segregation of resistance alleles occurring within the housekeeping targets of antibiotics. We surveyed a large number of metagenomic datasets extracted from a large variety of host-associated and non host-associated environments for such alleles conferring resistance to three groups of broad spectrum antibiotics: streptomycin, rifamycins, and quinolones. We find notable segregation frequencies of resistance alleles occurring within the target genes of each of the three antibiotics, with quinolone resistance alleles being the most frequent and rifamycin resistance alleles being the least frequent. Resistance allele frequencies varied greatly between different phyla and as a function of environment. The frequency of quinolone resistance alleles was especially high within host-associated environments, where it averaged an alarming ∼40%. Within host-associated environments, resistance to quinolones was most often conferred by a specific resistance allele. High frequencies of quinolone resistance alleles were also found within hosts that were not directly treated with antibiotics. Therefore, the high segregation frequency of quinolone resistance alleles occurring within the housekeeping targets of antibiotics in host-associated environments does not seem to be the sole result of clinical antibiotic usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley Field
- Rachel & Menachem Mendelovitch Evolutionary Processes of Mutation & Natural Selection Research Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ruth Hershberg
- Rachel & Menachem Mendelovitch Evolutionary Processes of Mutation & Natural Selection Research Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Waite DW, Taylor MW. Characterizing the avian gut microbiota: membership, driving influences, and potential function. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:223. [PMID: 24904538 PMCID: PMC4032936 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 277] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds represent a diverse and evolutionarily successful lineage, occupying a wide range of niches throughout the world. Like all vertebrates, avians harbor diverse communities of microorganisms within their guts, which collectively fulfill important roles in providing the host with nutrition and protection from pathogens. Although many studies have investigated the role of particular microbes in the guts of avian species, there has been no attempt to unify the results of previous, sequence-based studies to examine the factors that shape the avian gut microbiota as a whole. In this study, we present the first meta-analysis of the avian gut microbiota, using 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from a range of publicly available clone-library and amplicon pyrosequencing data. We investigate community membership and structure, as well as probe the roles of some of the key biological factors that influence the gut microbiota of other vertebrates, such as host phylogeny, location within the gut, diet, and association with humans. Our results indicate that, across avian studies, the microbiota demonstrates a similar phylum-level composition to that of mammals. Host bird species is the most important factor in determining community composition, although sampling site, diet, and captivity status also contribute. These analyses provide a first integrated look at the composition of the avian microbiota, and serve as a foundation for future studies in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Waite
- Centre for Microbial Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Michael W Taylor
- Centre for Microbial Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand
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Mirón L, Mira A, Rocha-Ramírez V, Belda-Ferre P, Cabrera-Rubio R, Folch-Mallol J, Cardénas-Vázquez R, DeLuna A, Hernández AL, Maya-Elizarrarás E, Schondube JE. Gut Bacterial Diversity of the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Inferred by 16S rRNA Sequence Analysis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.4303/mg/235853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Abstract
In vertebrates and invertebrates, morphological and functional features of gastrointestinal (GI) tracts generally reflect food chemistry, such as content of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and material(s) refractory to rapid digestion (e.g., cellulose). The expression of digestive enzymes and nutrient transporters approximately matches the dietary load of their respective substrates, with relatively modest excess capacity. Mechanisms explaining differences in hydrolase activity between populations and species include gene copy number variations and single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Transcriptional and posttranscriptional adjustments mediate phenotypic changes in the expression of hydrolases and transporters in response to dietary signals. Many species respond to higher food intake by flexibly increasing digestive compartment size. Fermentative processes by symbiotic microorganisms are important for cellulose degradation but are relatively slow, so animals that rely on those processes typically possess special enlarged compartment(s) to maintain a microbiota and other GI structures that slow digesta flow. The taxon richness of the gut microbiota, usually identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, is typically an order of magnitude greater in vertebrates than invertebrates, and the interspecific variation in microbial composition is strongly influenced by diet. Many of the nutrient transporters are orthologous across different animal phyla, though functional details may vary (e.g., glucose and amino acid transport with K+ rather than Na+ as a counter ion). Paracellular absorption is important in many birds. Natural toxins are ubiquitous in foods and may influence key features such as digesta transit, enzymatic breakdown, microbial fermentation, and absorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Karasov
- Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
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Hahn DC, Summers SG, Genovese KJ, He H, Kogut MH. Obligate Brood Parasites Show More Functionally Effective Innate Immune Responses: An Eco-immunological Hypothesis. Evol Biol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-013-9231-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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30
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Brandão J, Beaufrère H. Clinical Update and Treatment of Selected Infectious Gastrointestinal Diseases in Avian Species. J Exot Pet Med 2013. [DOI: 10.1053/j.jepm.2013.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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31
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Saengkerdsub S, Ricke SC. Ecology and characteristics of methanogenic archaea in animals and humans. Crit Rev Microbiol 2013; 40:97-116. [PMID: 23425063 DOI: 10.3109/1040841x.2013.763220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In this review, the molecular techniques used in animal-based-methanogen studies will be discussed along with how methanogens interact not only with other microorganisms but with their animal hosts as well. These methods not only indicate the diversity and levels of methanogens, but also provide insight on their ecological functions. Most molecular techniques have been based on either 16S rRNA genes or methyl-coenzyme M reductase, a ubiquitous enzyme in methanogens. The most predominant methanogens in animals belong to the genus Methanobrevibacter. Besides methanogens contributing to overall H2 balance, methanogens also have mutual interactions with other bacteria. In addition to shared metabolic synergism, the host animal retrieves additional energy from the diet when methanogens are co-colonized with other normal flora. By comparing genes in methanogens with other bacteria, possible gene transfer between methanogens and other bacteria in the same environments appears to occur. Finally, diets in conjunction with the genetics of methanogens and hosts may represent the biological framework that dictate the extent of methanogen prevalence in these ecosystems. In addition, host evolution including the immune system could serve as an additional selective pressure for methanogen colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suwat Saengkerdsub
- Department of Food Science, Center for Food Safety, University of Arkansas , Fayetteville, AR , USA , and
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Archaea in symbioses. ARCHAEA-AN INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2012; 2012:596846. [PMID: 23326206 PMCID: PMC3544247 DOI: 10.1155/2012/596846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2012] [Accepted: 11/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
During the last few years, the analysis of microbial diversity in various habitats greatly increased our knowledge on the kingdom Archaea. At the same time, we became aware of the multiple ways in which Archaea may interact with each other and with organisms of other kingdoms. The large group of euryarchaeal methanogens and their methane oxidizing relatives, in particular, take part in essential steps of the global methane cycle. Both of these processes, which are in reverse to each other, are partially conducted in a symbiotic interaction with different partners, either ciliates and xylophagous animals or sulfate reducing bacteria. Other symbiotic interactions are mostly of unknown ecological significance but depend on highly specific mechanisms. This paper will give an overview on interactions between Archaea and other organisms and will point out the ecological relevance of these symbiotic processes, as long as these have been already recognized.
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Analysis of stomach and gut microbiomes of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) from coastal Louisiana, USA. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51475. [PMID: 23251548 PMCID: PMC3520802 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2012] [Accepted: 11/05/2012] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We used high throughput pyrosequencing to characterize stomach and gut content microbiomes of Crassostrea virginica, the Easter oyster, obtained from two sites, one in Barataria Bay (Hackberry Bay) and the other in Terrebonne Bay (Lake Caillou), Louisiana, USA. Stomach microbiomes in oysters from Hackberry Bay were overwhelmingly dominated by Mollicutes most closely related to Mycoplasma; a more rich community dominated by Planctomyctes occurred in Lake Caillou oyster stomachs. Gut communities for oysters from both sites differed from stomach communities, and harbored a relatively diverse assemblage of phylotypes. Phylotypes most closely related to Shewanella and a Chloroflexi strain dominated the Lake Caillou and Hackberry Bay gut microbiota, respectively. While many members of the stomach and gut microbiomes appeared to be transients or opportunists, a putative core microbiome was identified based on phylotypes that occurred in all stomach or gut samples only. The putative core stomach microbiome comprised 5 OTUs in 3 phyla, while the putative core gut microbiome contained 44 OTUs in 12 phyla. These results collectively revealed novel microbial communities within the oyster digestive system, the functions of the oyster microbiome are largely unknown. A comparison of microbiomes from Louisiana oysters with bacterial communities reported for other marine invertebrates and fish indicated that molluscan microbiomes were more similar to each other than to microbiomes of polychaetes, decapods and fish.
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34
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Analysis of stomach bacterial communities in Australian feral horses. Mol Biol Rep 2012; 40:369-76. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-012-2070-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/03/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Anaerobic transformation of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) by ovine rumen microorganisms. Res Microbiol 2012; 163:567-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2012.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2012] [Accepted: 07/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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36
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Perumbakkam S, Craig AM. Biochemical and Microbial Analysis of Ovine Rumen Fluid Incubated with 1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (RDX). Curr Microbiol 2012; 65:195-201. [DOI: 10.1007/s00284-012-0144-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2012] [Accepted: 04/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Waite DW, Deines P, Taylor MW. Gut microbiome of the critically endangered New Zealand parrot, the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus). PLoS One 2012; 7:e35803. [PMID: 22530070 PMCID: PMC3329475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2012] [Accepted: 03/22/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The kakapo, a parrot endemic to New Zealand, is currently the focus of intense research and conservation efforts with the aim of boosting its population above the current ‘critically endangered’ status. While virtually nothing is known about the microbiology of the kakapo, given the acknowledged importance of gut-associated microbes in vertebrate nutrition and pathogen defense, it should be of great conservation value to analyze the microbes associated with kakapo. Here we describe the first study of the bacterial communities that reside within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of both juvenile and adult kakapo. Samples from along the GIT, taken from the choana (≈throat), crop and faeces, were subjected to 16 S rRNA gene library analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of >1000 16 S rRNA gene clones, derived from six birds, revealed low phylum-level diversity, consisting almost exclusively of Firmicutes (including lactic acid bacteria) and Gammaproteobacteria. The relative proportions of Firmicutes and Gammaproteobacteria were highly consistent among individual juveniles, irrespective of sampling location, but differed markedly among adult birds. Diversity at a finer phylogenetic resolution (i.e. operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of 99% sequence identity) was also low in all samples, with only one or two OTUs dominating each sample. These data represent the first analysis of the bacterial communities associated with the kakapo GIT, providing a baseline for further microbiological study, and facilitating conservation efforts for this unique bird.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W. Waite
- Centre for Microbial Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Peter Deines
- Centre for Microbial Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Michael W. Taylor
- Centre for Microbial Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- * E-mail:
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Godoy-Vitorino F, Leal SJ, Díaz WA, Rosales J, Goldfarb KC, García-Amado MA, Michelangeli F, Brodie EL, Domínguez-Bello MG. Differences in crop bacterial community structure between hoatzins from different geographical locations. Res Microbiol 2012; 163:211-20. [PMID: 22313738 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2012.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2011] [Accepted: 12/30/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The hoatzin is the only known folivorous bird with foregut fermentation, and is distributed in Venezuela in rivers of the central savannas to the eastern Orinoco River. Differences in diet are expected to affect the digestive microbiota and we hypothesized that hoatzins from different habitats might have a different crop microbiota. We thus characterized the microbiota of six birds from the Cojedes and Orinoco Rivers using the G2 PhyloChip and, in parallel, we compared plant availability and foraging behavior of the hoatzins from the two locations. Plant composition differed between the 2 locations, which shared 5 out of 18 plant families and 1 plant genus--Coccoloba--that was highly consumed in both locations. The PhyloChip detected ∼1600 phylotypes from 42 phyla. There was a core microbiota with ~50% of the OTUs shared by at least 4 of the 6 individuals, but there were also differences in the crop microbiota of animals from the two regions. There existed a higher relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria in the crops of birds from the Cojedes River and of Clostridia and Deltaproteobacteria in the crops of birds from the Orinoco River. The results showed both a core crop microbiota and also the bacterial taxa responsible for geographical differences among individuals from the two locations with different vegetation, suggesting an effect of both diet and geography in shaping the crop bacterial community of the hoatzin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Godoy-Vitorino
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 23360, San Juan, PR 00931
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Kohl KD. Diversity and function of the avian gut microbiota. J Comp Physiol B 2012; 182:591-602. [PMID: 22246239 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-012-0645-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2011] [Revised: 12/30/2011] [Accepted: 01/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The intestinal microbiota have now been shown to largely affect host health through various functional roles in terms of nutrition, immunity, and other physiological systems. However, the majority of these studies have been carried out in mammalian hosts, which differ in their physiological traits from other taxa. For example, birds possess several unique life history traits, such as hatching from eggs, which may alter the interactions with and transmission of intestinal microbes compared to most mammals. This review covers the diversity of microbial taxa hosted by birds. It also discusses how avian microbial communities strongly influence nutrition, immune function, and processing of toxins in avian hosts, in manners similar to and different from mammalian systems. Finally, areas demanding further research are identified, along with descriptions of existing techniques that could be employed to answer these questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
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Godoy-Vitorino F, Goldfarb KC, Karaoz U, Leal S, Garcia-Amado MA, Hugenholtz P, Tringe SG, Brodie EL, Dominguez-Bello MG. Comparative analyses of foregut and hindgut bacterial communities in hoatzins and cows. ISME JOURNAL 2011; 6:531-41. [PMID: 21938024 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2011.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Foregut fermentation occurs in mammalian ruminants and in one bird, the South American folivorous hoatzin. This bird has an enlarged crop with a function analogous to the rumen, where foregut microbes degrade the otherwise indigestible plant matter, providing energy to the host from foregut fermentation, in addition to the fermentation that occurs in their hindguts (cecum/colon). As foregut fermentation represents an evolutionary convergence between hoatzins and ruminants, our aim was to compare the community structure of foregut and hindgut bacterial communities in the cow and hoatzin to evaluate the influences of host phylogeny and organ function in shaping the gut microbiome. The approach used was to hybridize amplified bacterial ribosomal RNA genes onto a high-density microarray (PhyloChip). The results show that the microbial communities cluster primarily by functional environment (foreguts cluster separately from hindguts) and then by host. Bacterial community diversity was higher in the cow than in the hoatzin. Overall, compared with hindguts, foreguts have higher proportions of Bacteroidetes and Spirochaetes, and lower proportions of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The main host differences in gut bacterial composition include a higher representation of Spirochaetes, Synergistetes and Verrucomicrobia in the cow. Despite the significant differences in host phylogeny, body size, physiology and diet, the function seems to shape the microbial communities involved in fermentation. Regardless of the independent origin of foregut fermentation in birds and mammals, organ function has led to convergence of the microbial community structure in phylogenetically distant hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Godoy-Vitorino
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Samsudin AA, Evans PN, Wright ADG, Al Jassim R. Molecular diversity of the foregut bacteria community in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius). Environ Microbiol 2011; 13:3024-35. [PMID: 21914099 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2011.02579.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The molecular diversity of the foregut bacterial community in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Central Australia was investigated through comparative analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences prepared from the foregut contents of 12 adult feral camels fed on native vegetation. A total of 267 full-length 16S rRNA gene clones were examined, with 151 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) identified at a 99% species-level identity cut-off criterion. The prediction of actual diversity in the foregut of the dromedary camel using the Chaol approach was 238 OTUs, while the richness and evenness of the diversity estimated using Shannon index was 4.84. The majority of bacteria in the current study were affiliated with the bacterial phylum Firmicutes (67% of total clones) and were related to the classes Clostridia, Bacilli and Mollicutes, followed by the Bacteroidetes (25%) that were mostly represented by the family Prevotellaceae. The remaining phyla were represented by Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Cynophyta, Lentisphaerae, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria and Sphirochaetes. Moreover, 11 clones of cultivated bacteria were identified as Brevundimonas sp., Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Prevotella sp. and Ruminococcus flavefaciens. The novelty in this foregut environment is remarkable where 97% of the OTUs were distantly related to any known sequence in the public database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjas A Samsudin
- The University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
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DeSantis TZ, Keller K, Karaoz U, Alekseyenko AV, Singh NNS, Brodie EL, Pei Z, Andersen GL, Larsen N. Simrank: Rapid and sensitive general-purpose k-mer search tool. BMC Ecol 2011; 11:11. [PMID: 21524302 PMCID: PMC3097142 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-11-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2010] [Accepted: 04/27/2011] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Terabyte-scale collections of string-encoded data are expected from consortia efforts such as the Human Microbiome Project http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/hmp. Intra- and inter-project data similarity searches are enabled by rapid k-mer matching strategies. Software applications for sequence database partitioning, guide tree estimation, molecular classification and alignment acceleration have benefited from embedded k-mer searches as sub-routines. However, a rapid, general-purpose, open-source, flexible, stand-alone k-mer tool has not been available. Results Here we present a stand-alone utility, Simrank, which allows users to rapidly identify database strings the most similar to query strings. Performance testing of Simrank and related tools against DNA, RNA, protein and human-languages found Simrank 10X to 928X faster depending on the dataset. Conclusions Simrank provides molecular ecologists with a high-throughput, open source choice for comparing large sequence sets to find similarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd Z DeSantis
- Ecology Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA.
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43
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Hahn DC, Reisen WK. Heightened Exposure to Parasites Favors the Evolution of Immunity in Brood Parasitic Cowbirds. Evol Biol 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-011-9112-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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44
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Karasov WH, Martínez del Rio C, Caviedes-Vidal E. Ecological physiology of diet and digestive systems. Annu Rev Physiol 2011; 73:69-93. [PMID: 21314432 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-012110-142152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The morphological and functional design of gastrointestinal tracts of many vertebrates and invertebrates can be explained largely by the interaction between diet chemical constituents and principles of economic design, both of which are embodied in chemical reactor models of gut function. Natural selection seems to have led to the expression of digestive features that approximately match digestive capacities with dietary loads while exhibiting relatively modest excess. Mechanisms explaining differences in hydrolase activity between populations and species include gene copy number variations and single-nucleotide polymorphisms. In many animals, both transcriptional adjustment and posttranscriptional adjustment mediate phenotypic flexibility in the expression of intestinal hydrolases and transporters in response to dietary signals. Digestive performance of animals depends also on their gastrointestinal microbiome. The microbiome seems to be characterized by large beta diversity among hosts and by a common core metagenome and seems to differ flexibly among animals with different diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Karasov
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 53706, USA.
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45
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Santos HF, Flôres ML, Lara VM, Silva MSE, Battisti L, Lovato LT. Microbiota cloacal aeróbia de cracídeos cativos no Rio Grande do Sul e sua susceptibilidade a antimicrobianos. PESQUISA VETERINARIA BRASILEIRA 2010. [DOI: 10.1590/s0100-736x2010001200013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Os cracídeos são aves silvestres que habitam as matas tropicais da América. Foram coletadas, no ano de 2007, amostras cloacais de 51 aves de dez espécies diferentes de cracídeos mantidos em cativeiros no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. A partir dos swabs, colhidos assepticamente, foi realizado o isolamento e a caracterização bacteriana e o teste de susceptibilidade antimicrobiana dos isolados. Foram identificadas 93 cepas de bactérias. As bactérias mais frequentemente isoladas foram Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp. e Streptococcus spp. Todas as amostras foram negativas para o isolamento de Salmonella spp. O resultado do teste de sensibilidade mostrou que dentre as 93 cepas isoladas, todas foram sensíveis apenas ao imipinem. Adicionalmente, os menores percentuais de resistência foram observados frente ao cloranfenicol e ciprofloxacina. Os gêneros e espécies bacterianas com maior percentual de resistência a diferentes antibióticos testados foram Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus e Streptococcus spp. Com os resultados obtidos no presente trabalho, concluí-se, que a população de cracídeos estudada apresenta sua microbiota cloacal composta por vários gêneros e espécies bacterianas e que a multirresistencia pode ser um problema no futuro, uma vez que algumas cepas isoladas mostraram percentuais elevados de resistência a diferente antimicrobianos.
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46
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White J, Mirleau P, Danchin E, Mulard H, Hatch SA, Heeb P, Wagner RH. Sexually transmitted bacteria affect female cloacal assemblages in a wild bird. Ecol Lett 2010; 13:1515-24. [PMID: 20961376 DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01542.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 1515-1524 ABSTRACT: Sexual transmission is an important mode of disease propagation, yet its mechanisms remain largely unknown in wild populations. Birds comprise an important model for studying sexually transmitted microbes because their cloaca provides a potential for both gastrointestinal pathogens and endosymbionts to become incorporated into ejaculates. We experimentally demonstrate in a wild population of kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) that bacteria are transmitted during copulation and affect the composition and diversity of female bacterial communities. We used an anti-insemination device attached to males in combination with a molecular technique (automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis) that describes bacterial communities. After inseminations were experimentally blocked, the cloacal communities of mates became increasingly dissimilar. Moreover, female cloacal diversity decreased and the extinction of mate-shared bacteria increased, indicating that female cloacal assemblages revert to their pre-copulatory state and that the cloaca comprises a resilient microbial ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joël White
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR 5174, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France.
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Godoy-Vitorino F, Goldfarb KC, Brodie EL, Garcia-Amado MA, Michelangeli F, Domínguez-Bello MG. Developmental microbial ecology of the crop of the folivorous hoatzin. ISME JOURNAL 2010; 4:611-20. [PMID: 20130656 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2009.147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) is a South American strict folivorous bird, with a crop microbial ecosystem that ferments dietary plants. Chicks progressively become independent from the adult-fed regurgitated crop liquids, and we hypothesized that the crop bacterial ecosystem develops through ecological succession mechanisms, as they grow into adults. The aim of this work was to compare the crop bacterial community in hoatzins from three age groups: newly hatched chicks, juveniles and adults by sequencing 16S rRNA genes and using the G2 PhyloChip. Cloning yielded a total of 2123 nearly full-length sequences binned into 294 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) (with <97% homology) belonging to 7 phyla, with 91% of novel OTUs. The microarray identified a diverse bacterial community dominated by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, with approximately 1400 taxa grouped in 40 phyla that included those detected by cloning. In comparison with the adult, the hoatzin chick crop had a greater abundance of Flavobacteriaceae, Clostridiaceae and Lachnospiraceae but lacked phyla DSS1, Deferribacteres and Termite group 1, which were mostly present in adults. The overall community structure of the crop of the hoatzin changes with age in a complex manner, probably responding to new niches made available through dietary changes related to the transition from dependent to independent feeding.
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Wright ADG, Northwood KS, Obispo NE. Rumen-like methanogens identified from the crop of the folivorous South American bird, the hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin). ISME JOURNAL 2009; 3:1120-6. [DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2009.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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