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Yao YG, Lu L, Ni RJ, Bi R, Chen C, Chen JQ, Fuchs E, Gorbatyuk M, Lei H, Li H, Liu C, Lv LB, Tsukiyama-Kohara K, Kohara M, Perez-Cruz C, Rainer G, Shan BC, Shen F, Tang AZ, Wang J, Xia W, Xia X, Xu L, Yu D, Zhang F, Zheng P, Zheng YT, Zhou J, Zhou JN. Study of tree shrew biology and models: A booming and prosperous field for biomedical research. Zool Res 2024; 45:877-909. [PMID: 39004865 PMCID: PMC11298672 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2024.199] [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: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The tree shrew ( Tupaia belangeri) has long been proposed as a suitable alternative to non-human primates (NHPs) in biomedical and laboratory research due to its close evolutionary relationship with primates. In recent years, significant advances have facilitated tree shrew studies, including the determination of the tree shrew genome, genetic manipulation using spermatogonial stem cells, viral vector-mediated gene delivery, and mapping of the tree shrew brain atlas. However, the limited availability of tree shrews globally remains a substantial challenge in the field. Additionally, determining the key questions best answered using tree shrews constitutes another difficulty. Tree shrew models have historically been used to study hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, myopia, and psychosocial stress-induced depression, with more recent studies focusing on developing animal models for infectious and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite these efforts, the impact of tree shrew models has not yet matched that of rodent or NHP models in biomedical research. This review summarizes the prominent advancements in tree shrew research and reflects on the key biological questions addressed using this model. We emphasize that intensive dedication and robust international collaboration are essential for achieving breakthroughs in tree shrew studies. The use of tree shrews as a unique resource is expected to gain considerable attention with the application of advanced techniques and the development of viable animal models, meeting the increasing demands of life science and biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Gang Yao
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), and National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China. E-mail:
| | - Li Lu
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), and National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Rong-Jun Ni
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Sichuan Clinical Medical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Chengdu, Sichuan 610044, China
| | - Rui Bi
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), and National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Ceshi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Jia-Qi Chen
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), and National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
| | - Eberhard Fuchs
- German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute of Primate Research, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Marina Gorbatyuk
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Hao Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Hongli Li
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), and National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Soong Ching Ling Institute of Maternity and Child Health, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Long-Bao Lv
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), and National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
| | - Kyoko Tsukiyama-Kohara
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Center, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima-city, Kagoshima 890-8580, Japan
| | - Michinori Kohara
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | | | - Gregor Rainer
- Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland
| | - Bao-Ci Shan
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Radiographic Techniques and Equipment, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fang Shen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - An-Zhou Tang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530000, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi 530000, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Wei Xia
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530000, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi 530000, China
| | - Xueshan Xia
- School of Public Health, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Ling Xu
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), and National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Dandan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), and National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Soong Ching Ling Institute of Maternity and Child Health, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Ping Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), and National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Yong-Tang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), and National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Jumin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Jiang-Ning Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- Institute of Brain Science, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
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Grieneisen L, Hays A, Cook E, Blekhman R, Tecot S. Temporal patterns of gut microbiota in lemurs (Eulemur rubriventer) living in intact and disturbed habitats in a novel sample type. Am J Primatol 2024:e23656. [PMID: 38873762 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23656] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
The gut microbiome is a plastic phenotype; gut microbial composition is highly variable across an individual host's lifetime and between host social groups, and this variation has consequences for host health. However, we do not yet fully understand how longitudinal microbial dynamics and their social drivers may be influenced by ecological stressors, such as habitat degradation. Answering these questions is difficult in most wild animal systems, as it requires long-term collections of matched host, microbiome, and environmental trait data. To test if temporal and social influences on microbiome composition differ by the history of human disturbance, we leveraged banked, desiccated fecal samples collected over 5 months in 2004 from two ecologically distinct populations of wild, red-bellied lemurs (Eulemur rubriventer) that are part of a long-term study system. We found that social group explained more variation in microbiome composition than host population membership did, and that temporal variation in common microbial taxa was similar between populations, despite differences in history of human disturbance. Furthermore, we found that social group membership and collection month were both more important than individual lemur identity. Taken together, our results suggest that synchronized environments use can lead to synchronized microbial dynamics over time, even between habitats of varying quality, and that desiccated samples could become a viable approach for studying primate gut microbiota. Our work opens the door for other projects to utilize historic biological sample data sets to answer novel temporal microbiome questions in an ecological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Grieneisen
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia-Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Allison Hays
- Laboratory for the Evolutionary Endocrinology of Primates, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Erica Cook
- Laboratory for the Evolutionary Endocrinology of Primates, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Ran Blekhman
- Section of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Stacey Tecot
- Laboratory for the Evolutionary Endocrinology of Primates, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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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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Klure DM, Dearing MD. Seasonal restructuring facilitates compositional convergence of gut microbiota in free-ranging rodents. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad127. [PMID: 37838471 PMCID: PMC10622585 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut microbes provide essential services to their host and shifts in their composition can impact host fitness. However, despite advances in our understanding of how microbes are assembled in the gut, we understand little about the stability of these communities within individuals, nor what factors influence its composition over the life of an animal. For this reason, we conducted a longitudinal survey of the gut microbial communities of individual free-ranging woodrats (Neotoma spp.) across a hybrid zone in the Mojave Desert, USA, using amplicon sequencing approaches to characterize gut microbial profiles and diet. We found that gut microbial communities were individualized and experienced compositional restructuring as a result of seasonal transitions and changes in diet. Turnover of gut microbiota was highest amongst bacterial subspecies and was much lower at the rank of Family, suggesting there may be selection for conservation of core microbial functions in the woodrat gut. Lastly, we identified an abundant core gut bacterial community that may aid woodrats in metabolizing a diet of plants and their specialized metabolites. These results demonstrate that the gut microbial communities of woodrats are highly dynamic and experience seasonal restructuring which may facilitate adaptive plasticity in response to changes in diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan M Klure
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 S 1400 E rm 201, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, United States
| | - M Denise Dearing
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 S 1400 E rm 201, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, United States
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Martinez-Rabert E, Sloan WT, Gonzalez-Cabaleiro R. Multiscale models driving hypothesis and theory-based research in microbial ecology. Interface Focus 2023; 13:20230008. [PMID: 37303746 PMCID: PMC10251115 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2023.0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypothesis and theory-based studies in microbial ecology have been neglected in favour of those that are descriptive and aim for data-gathering of uncultured microbial species. This tendency limits our capacity to create new mechanistic explanations of microbial community dynamics, hampering the improvement of current environmental biotechnologies. We propose that a multiscale modelling bottom-up approach (piecing together sub-systems to give rise to more complex systems) can be used as a framework to generate mechanistic hypotheses and theories (in-silico bottom-up methodology). To accomplish this, formal comprehension of the mathematical model design is required together with a systematic procedure for the application of the in-silico bottom-up methodology. Ruling out the belief that experimentation before modelling is indispensable, we propose that mathematical modelling can be used as a tool to direct experimentation by validating theoretical principles of microbial ecology. Our goal is to develop methodologies that effectively integrate experimentation and modelling efforts to achieve superior levels of predictive capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloi Martinez-Rabert
- James Watt School of Engineering, Infrastructure and Environment Research Division, University of Glasgow, Advanced Research Centre, Glasgow, UK
| | - William T. Sloan
- James Watt School of Engineering, Infrastructure and Environment Research Division, University of Glasgow, Advanced Research Centre, Glasgow, UK
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Rose C, Lund MB, Søgård AM, Busck MM, Bechsgaard JS, Schramm A, Bilde T. Social transmission of bacterial symbionts homogenizes the microbiome within and across generations of group-living spiders. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:60. [PMID: 37330540 PMCID: PMC10276852 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00256-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Disentangling modes and fidelity of symbiont transmission are key for understanding host-symbiont associations in wild populations. In group-living animals, social transmission may evolve to ensure high-fidelity transmission of symbionts, since non-reproducing helpers constitute a dead-end for vertical transmission. We investigated symbiont transmission in the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola, which lives in family groups where the majority of females are non-reproducing helpers, females feed offspring by regurgitation, and individuals feed communally on insect prey. Group members share temporally stable microbiomes across generations, while distinct variation in microbiome composition exists between groups. We hypothesized that horizontal transmission of symbionts is enhanced by social interactions, and investigated transmission routes within (horizontal) and across (vertical) generations using bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing in three experiments: (i) individuals were sampled at all life stages to assess at which life stage the microbiome is acquired. (ii) a cross-fostering design was employed to test whether offspring carry the microbiome from their natal nest, or acquire the microbiome of the foster nest via social transmission. (iii) adult spiders with different microbiome compositions were mixed to assess whether social transmission homogenizes microbiome composition among group members. We demonstrate that offspring hatch symbiont-free, and bacterial symbionts are transmitted vertically across generations by social interactions with the onset of regurgitation feeding by (foster)mothers in an early life stage. Social transmission governs horizontal inter-individual mixing and homogenization of microbiome composition among nest mates. We conclude that temporally stable host-symbiont associations in social species can be facilitated and maintained by high-fidelity social transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Rose
- Section for Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Marie B Lund
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Andrea M Søgård
- Section for Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mette M Busck
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jesper S Bechsgaard
- Section for Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Andreas Schramm
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Trine Bilde
- Section for Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Florkowski MR, Yorzinski JL. Gut microbiome diversity and composition is associated with exploratory behavior in a wild-caught songbird. Anim Microbiome 2023; 5:8. [PMID: 36739424 PMCID: PMC9899379 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-023-00227-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gut microbiome influences its host in a myriad of ways, from immune system development to nutrient utilization. However, our understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiome and behavior, especially in wild species, is still poor. One behavior that potentially interacts with the gut microbiome is exploratory behavior, which animals use to acquire new information from the environment. We hypothesized that diversity of the gut microbiome will be correlated with exploratory behavior in a wild-caught bird species. To test this hypothesis, we captured wild house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and collected fecal samples to measure the diversity of their gut microbiomes. We then introduced individuals to a novel environment and measured their exploratory behavior. RESULTS We found that birds with higher alpha diversity of the gut microbiome exhibited higher exploratory behavior. These results suggest that high exploratory birds encounter more types of environmental microbes that contribute to their diverse gut microbiome compared with less exploratory birds. Alternatively, increased gut microbiome diversity may contribute to increased exploratory behavior. We also found differences in beta diversity when comparing high and low exploring birds, indicating differences in microbiome community structure. When comparing predicted functional pathways of the birds' microbiomes, we found that the microbiomes of high explorers contained more pathways involved in biofilm formation and xenobiotic degradation than those of low explorers. CONCLUSIONS Overall, we found that the alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiome is correlated with exploratory behavior of house sparrows. The predicted functions of the gut microbiome from high explorers differs from that of low explorers. Our study highlights the importance of considering the gut microbiome when investigating animal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie R. Florkowski
- grid.264756.40000 0004 4687 2082Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program, Texas A&M University, 534 John Kimbrough Blvd, College Station, TX 77843 USA
| | - Jessica L. Yorzinski
- grid.264756.40000 0004 4687 2082Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program, Texas A&M University, 534 John Kimbrough Blvd, College Station, TX 77843 USA ,grid.264756.40000 0004 4687 2082Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX USA
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8
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Vasconcelos DS, Harris DJ, Damas-Moreira I, Pereira A, Xavier R. Factors shaping the gut microbiome of five species of lizards from different habitats. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15146. [PMID: 37187519 PMCID: PMC10178224 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Host-gut microbiota interactions are complex and can have a profound impact on the ecology and evolution of both counterparts. Several host traits such as systematics, diet and social behavior, and external factors such as prey availability and local environment are known to influence the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota. Methods In this study, we investigate the influence of systematics, sex, host size, and locality/habitat on gut microbiota diversity in five lizard species from two different sites in Portugal: Podarcis bocagei and Podarcis lusitanicus, living in syntopy in a rural area in northern Portugal (Moledo); the invasive Podarcis siculus and the native Podarcis virescens, living in sympatry in an urbanized environment (Lisbon); and the invasive Teira dugesii also living in an urban area (Lisbon). We also infer the potential microbial transmission occurring between species living in sympatry and syntopy. To achieve these goals, we use a metabarcoding approach to characterize the bacterial communities from the cloaca of lizards, sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA. Results Habitat/locality was an important factor explaining differences in gut bacterial composition and structure, with species from urbanized environments having higher bacterial diversity. Host systematics (i.e., species) influenced gut bacterial community structure only in lizards from the urbanized environment. We also detected a significant positive correlation between lizard size and gut bacterial alpha-diversity in the invasive species P. siculus, which could be due to its higher exploratory behavior. Moreover, estimates of bacterial transmission indicate that P. siculus may have acquired a high proportion of local microbiota after its introduction. These findings confirm that a diverse array of host and environmental factors can influence lizards' gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana S. Vasconcelos
- CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão da Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO - Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - D. James Harris
- CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão da Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO - Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | | | - Ana Pereira
- CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão da Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO - Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Raquel Xavier
- CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão da Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO - Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
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9
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Munley KM, Han Y, Lansing MX, Demas GE. Winter madness: Melatonin as a neuroendocrine regulator of seasonal aggression. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 337:873-889. [PMID: 35451566 PMCID: PMC9587138 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Individuals of virtually all vertebrate species are exposed to annual fluctuations in the deterioration and renewal of their environments. As such, organisms have evolved to restrict energetically expensive processes and activities to a specific time of the year. Thus, the precise timing of physiology and behavior is critical for individual reproductive success and subsequent fitness. Although the majority of research on seasonality has focused on seasonal reproduction, pronounced fluctuations in other non-reproductive social behaviors, including agonistic behaviors (e.g., aggression), also occur. To date, most studies that have investigated the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying seasonal aggression have focused on the role of photoperiod (i.e., day length); prior findings have demonstrated that some seasonally breeding species housed in short "winter-like" photoperiods display increased aggression compared with those housed in long "summer-like" photoperiods, despite inhibited reproduction and low gonadal steroid levels. While fewer studies have examined how the hormonal correlates of environmental cues regulate seasonal aggression, our previous work suggests that the pineal hormone melatonin acts to increase non-breeding aggression in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) by altering steroid hormone secretion. This review addresses the physiological and cellular mechanisms underlying seasonal plasticity in aggressive and non-aggressive social behaviors, including a key role for melatonin in facilitating a "neuroendocrine switch" to alternative physiological mechanisms of aggression across the annual cycle. Collectively, these studies highlight novel and important mechanisms by which melatonin regulates aggressive behavior in vertebrates and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the neuroendocrine bases of seasonal social behaviors broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M. Munley
- Department of Biology and Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Yuqi Han
- Department of Biology and Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Matt X. Lansing
- Department of Biology and Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Gregory E. Demas
- Department of Biology and Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
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10
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Harshaw C, Kojima S, Wellman CL, Demas GE, Morrow AL, Taft DH, Kenkel WM, Leffel JK, Alberts JR. Maternal antibiotics disrupt microbiome, behavior, and temperature regulation in unexposed infant mice. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22289. [PMID: 35748626 PMCID: PMC9236156 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Maternal antibiotic (ABx) exposure can significantly perturb the transfer of microbiota from mother to offspring, resulting in dysbiosis of potential relevance to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies in rodent models have found long-term neurobehavioral effects in offspring of ABx-treated dams, but ASD-relevant behavior during the early preweaning period has thus far been neglected. Here, we exposed C57BL/6J mouse dams to ABx (5 mg/ml neomycin, 1.25 μg/ml pimaricin, .075% v/v acetic acid) dissolved in drinking water from gestational day 12 through offspring postnatal day 14. A number of ASD-relevant behaviors were assayed in offspring, including ultrasonic vocalization (USV) production during maternal separation, group huddling in response to cold challenge, and olfactory-guided home orientation. In addition, we obtained measures of thermoregulatory competence in pups during and following behavioral testing. We found a number of behavioral differences in offspring of ABx-treated dams (e.g., modulation of USVs by pup weight, activity while huddling) and provide evidence that some of these behavioral effects can be related to thermoregulatory deficiencies, particularly at younger ages. Our results suggest not only that ABx can disrupt microbiomes, thermoregulation, and behavior, but that metabolic effects may confound the interpretation of behavioral differences observed after early-life ABx exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sayuri Kojima
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
| | - Cara L. Wellman
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
| | | | - Ardythe L. Morrow
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Diana Hazard Taft
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
| | - William M. Kenkel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - Joseph K. Leffel
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
| | - Jeffrey R. Alberts
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
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11
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Cusick JA, Wellman CL, Demas GE. Maternal stress and the maternal microbiome have sex-specific effects on offspring development and aggressive behavior in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). Horm Behav 2022; 141:105146. [PMID: 35276524 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The gut microbiome, a community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses, interacts with many physiological systems to affect behavior. Prenatal experiences, including exposure to maternal stress and different maternal microbiomes, are important sources of organismal variation that can affect offspring development. These physiological systems do not act in isolation and can have long-term effects on offspring development and behavior. Here we investigated the interactive effects of maternal stress and manipulations of the maternal microbiome on offspring development and social behavior using Siberian hamsters, Phodopus sungorus. We exposed pregnant females to either a social stressor, antibiotics, both the social stressor and antibiotics, or no treatment (i.e., control) over the duration of their pregnancy and quantified male and female offspring growth, gut microbiome composition and diversity, stress-induced cortisol concentrations, and social behavior. Maternal antibiotic exposure altered the gut microbial communities of male and female offspring. Maternal treatment also had sex-specific effects on aspects of offspring development and aggressive behavior. Female offspring produced by stressed mothers were more aggressive than other female offspring. Female, but not male, offspring produced by mothers exposed to the combined treatment displayed low levels of aggression, suggesting that alteration of the maternal microbiome attenuated the effects of prenatal stress in a sex-specific manner. Maternal treatment did not affect non-aggressive behavior in offspring. Collectively, our study offers insight into how maternal systems can interact to affect offspring in sex-specific ways and highlights the important role of the maternal microbiome in mediating offspring development and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Cusick
- Department of Biology, Utah Valley University, United States of America; Department of Biology, Indiana University, United States of America; Animal Behavior Program, Indiana University, United States of America.
| | - Cara L Wellman
- Animal Behavior Program, Indiana University, United States of America; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, United States of America; Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, United States of America
| | - Gregory E Demas
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, United States of America; Animal Behavior Program, Indiana University, United States of America; Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, United States of America
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12
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MacLeod KJ, Kohl KD, Trevelline BK, Langkilde T. Context-dependent effects of glucocorticoids on the lizard gut microbiome. Mol Ecol 2021; 31:185-196. [PMID: 34661319 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The vertebrate gut microbiota (bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities of the gastrointestinal tract) can have profound effects on the physiological processes of their hosts. Although relatively stable, changes in microbiome structure and composition occur due to changes in the environment, including exposure to stressors and associated increases in glucocorticoid hormones. Although a growing number of studies have linked stressor exposure to microbiome changes, few studies have experimentally explored the specific influence of glucocorticoids on the microbiome in wild animals, or across ecologically important processes (e.g., reproductive stages). Here we tested the response of the gut microbiota of adult female Sceloporus undulatus across gestation to ecologically relevant elevations of a stress-relevant glucocorticoid hormone (CORT) in order to determine (i) how experimentally elevated CORT influenced microbiome characteristics, and (ii) whether this relationship was dependent on reproductive context (i.e., whether females were gravid or not, and, in those that were gravid, gestational stage). We show that the effects of CORT on gut microbiota are complex and depend on both gestational state and stage. CORT treatment altered microbial community membership and resulted in an increase in microbiome diversity in late-gestation females, and microbial community membership varied according to treatment. In nongravid females, CORT treatment decreased interindividual variation in microbial communities, but this effect was not observed in late-gestation females. Our results highlight the need for a more holistic understanding of the downstream physiological effects of glucocorticoids, as well as the importance of context (here, gestational state and stage) in interpreting stress effects in ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty J MacLeod
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brian K Trevelline
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.,Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Tracy Langkilde
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.,Center for Brain, Behavior and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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