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Iurk VB, Ingles M, Correa GS, Silva CR, Staichak G, Pileggi SAV, Christo SW, Domit C, Pileggi M. The potential influence of microplastics on the microbiome and disease susceptibility in sea turtles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174298. [PMID: 38944299 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are particles with sizes of ≤5 mm formed when plastic materials break down. These contaminants are often found in marine environments, making it easy for sea turtles to ingest them and for their microbiome to be exposed. MPs can disrupt microbiome balance, leading to dysbiosis and making organisms more susceptible to diseases. Owing to the significance of these processes, it is crucial to dedicate research to studying the metabolic and genetic analysis of the gut microbiome in sea turtles. The objective of this study was to describe the effects of exposure to MPs on the gut microbiome of sea turtles, based on current knowledge. This review also aimed to explore the potential link between MP exposure and disease susceptibility in these animals. We show that the metabolites produced by the gut microbiome, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), polyamines, and polysaccharide A, can regulate the expression of host genes. Regulation occurs through various mechanisms, including histone acetylation, DNA methylation, and the modulation of cytokine gene expression. These processes are essential for preserving the integrity of the gut mucosa and enhancing the functionality of immune cells. Exposure to MPs disrupts the gut microbiome and alters gene expression, leading to immune system disturbances in sea turtles. This vulnerability makes turtles more susceptible to opportunistic microorganisms such as chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChAHV5), which is linked to the development of fibropapillomatosis (FP). Additionally, targeted dietary interventions or the use of live microorganisms such as probiotics can help restore microbial biodiversity and recover lost metabolic pathways. The goal of these interventions is to restore the functionality of the immune system in sea turtles undergoing rehabilitation at specialized centers. The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in sea turtle health, sparking discussions and investigations that can potentially lead to promising treatments for these animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitória Bonfim Iurk
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, PR 832555-000, Brazil; Laboratório de Microbiologia Ambiental, Departamento de Biologia Estrutural, Molecular e Genética, Setor de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, PR 84030-000, Brazil
| | - Mariana Ingles
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, PR 832555-000, Brazil
| | - Giovana Sequinel Correa
- Laboratório de Virologia Aplicada, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, SC 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Caroline Rosa Silva
- Departamento de Biotecnologia, Genética e Biologia Celular, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Staichak
- Instituto de Biociências da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso, MT 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Sônia Alvim Veiga Pileggi
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Ambiental, Departamento de Biologia Estrutural, Molecular e Genética, Setor de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, PR 84030-000, Brazil.
| | - Susete Wambier Christo
- Laboratório de Zoologia, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Setor de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, PR 84030-000, Brazil
| | - Camila Domit
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, PR 832555-000, Brazil.
| | - Marcos Pileggi
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Ambiental, Departamento de Biologia Estrutural, Molecular e Genética, Setor de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, PR 84030-000, Brazil.
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Troitsky TS, Laine VN, Lilley TM. When the host's away, the pathogen will play: the protective role of the skin microbiome during hibernation. Anim Microbiome 2023; 5:66. [PMID: 38129884 PMCID: PMC10740296 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-023-00285-1] [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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The skin of animals is enveloped by a symbiotic microscopic ecosystem known as the microbiome. The host and microbiome exhibit a mutualistic relationship, collectively forming a single evolutionary unit sometimes referred to as a holobiont. Although the holobiome theory highlights the importance of the microbiome, little is known about how the skin microbiome contributes to protecting the host. Existing studies focus on humans or captive animals, but research in wild animals is in its infancy. Specifically, the protective role of the skin microbiome in hibernating animals remains almost entirely overlooked. This is surprising, considering the massive population declines in hibernating North American bats caused by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which causes white-nose syndrome. Hibernation offers a unique setting in which to study the function of the microbiome because, during torpor, the host's immune system becomes suppressed, making it susceptible to infection. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature on the protective role of the skin microbiome in non-human animals. We selected 230 publications that mentioned pathogen inhibition by microbes residing on the skin of the host animal. We found that the majority of studies were conducted in North America and focused on the bacterial microbiome of amphibians infected by the chytrid fungus. Despite mentioning pathogen inhibition by the skin microbiome, only 30.4% of studies experimentally tested the actual antimicrobial activity of symbionts. Additionally, only 7.8% of all publications studied defensive cutaneous symbionts during hibernation. With this review, we want to highlight the knowledge gap surrounding skin microbiome research in hibernating animals. For instance, research looking to mitigate the effects of white-nose syndrome in bats should focus on the antifungal microbiome of Palearctic bats, as they survive exposure to the Pseudogymnoascus destructans -pathogen during hibernation. We also recommend future studies prioritize lesser-known microbial symbionts, such as fungi, and investigate the effects of a combination of anti-pathogen microbes, as both areas of research show promise as probiotic treatments. By incorporating the protective skin microbiome into disease mitigation strategies, conservation efforts can be made more effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- T S Troitsky
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - V N Laine
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - T M Lilley
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Lin Z, He M, Zhong C, Li Y, Tang S, Kang X, Wu Z. Responses of gut microbiota in crocodile lizards ( Shinisaurus crocodilurus) to changes in temperature. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1263917. [PMID: 38033565 PMCID: PMC10684959 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1263917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota plays an essential role in maintaining the health and fitness of the host organism. As a critical environmental variable, temperature exerts significant effects on animal survival and reproduction. Elevated temperatures can influence the composition and function of the animal gut microbiota, which may have potentially detrimental effects on the host. The crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) is an ancient and currently endangered reptile species due to human hunting and habitat destruction. Given the predicted shifts in global temperatures in the next century, it is important to understand how warming affects the gut microbiota of these vulnerable lizards, which remains unclear. To determine how the microbial communities change in crocodile lizards in response to warming, we analyzed the gut microbiota under five temperature conditions (22°C, 24°C, 26°C, 28°C, and 30°C) using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that the dominant phyla, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, in gut microbiota were not significantly affected by temperature variations, but increasing temperature altered the structure and increased the community richness of the gut microbiota. In addition, warming changed the abundance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Actinobacteria, which may have negative effects on the physiological health of the crocodile lizards. Functional prediction analysis demonstrated that the functional pathways enriched in crocodile lizards were mainly related to metabolism, with no significant differences observed in these pathways at KEGG pathway level 1 after warming. These results provide valuable insights into the ecological adaptations and regulatory mechanisms employed by crocodile lizards in response to warming, which may be of benefit for their conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengzhong Lin
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Mingxian He
- College of Food and Biochemical Engineering, Guangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Guangxi, China
| | - Chunying Zhong
- College of Vocational and Technical Education, Guangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Guangxi, China
| | - Yuhui Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Sanqi Tang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Xindan Kang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Zhengjun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
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Pino-Vera R, Abreu-Acosta N, Foronda P. Study of Zoonotic Pathogens in Alien Population of Veiled Chameleons ( Chamaeleo calyptratus) in the Canary Islands (Spain). Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2288. [PMID: 37508064 PMCID: PMC10376624 DOI: 10.3390/ani13142288] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) are native to the Arabian Peninsula that have been introduced as pets in many regions around the world, such as the Canary Islands (Spain). In this work, the gastrointestinal content from veiled chameleons of Gran Canaria island (Canary Islands) has been analyzed to determine the presence of zoonotic bacteria. Forty animals were analyzed using different selective culture media and PCR. The most isolated bacteria were Yersinia enterocolitica (52.4%), followed by Salmonella spp. (40.0%), with positive isolates for Salmonella Tyhpi and Salmonella Typhimurium. Pseudomonas spp. was found in 32.5% of the chameleons. More than half were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus spp. was detected in six animals plus one isolate of non-resistant Staphylococcus hominis. Multiple mycobacteria species belonging to both tuberculous and non-tuberculous complexes were identified as well as Escherichia coli carrying the stx1 and eae virulence genes with 12.5% and 7.5% prevalence, respectively. Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter spp., and Vibrio spp. were found in lower proportion (<5%). The results obtained indicate that veiled chameleons in Gran Canaria could be playing a role in the maintenance and dissemination of the pathogens detected, harming public health and biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Román Pino-Vera
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- Department Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- Programa de Doctorado Ciencias Médicas y Farmacéuticas, Desarrollo y Calidad de Vida, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico F. Sánchez, s/n, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Néstor Abreu-Acosta
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- Nertalab S.L.U., 38001 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Pilar Foronda
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- Department Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
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Ambreetha S, Singh V. Genetic and environmental determinants of surface adaptations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169. [PMID: 37276014 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a well-studied Gram-negative opportunistic bacterium that thrives in markedly varied environments. It is a nutritionally versatile microbe that can colonize a host as well as exist in the environment. Unicellular, planktonic cells of
P. aeruginosa
can come together to perform a coordinated swarming movement or turn into a sessile, surface-adhered population called biofilm. These collective behaviours produce strikingly different outcomes. While swarming motility rapidly disseminates the bacterial population, biofilm collectively protects the population from environmental stresses such as heat, drought, toxic chemicals, grazing by predators, and attack by host immune cells and antibiotics. The ubiquitous nature of
P. aeruginosa
is likely to be supported by the timely transition between planktonic, swarming and biofilm lifestyles. The social behaviours of this bacteria viz biofilm and swarm modes are controlled by signals from quorum-sensing networks, LasI-LasR, RhlI-RhlR and PQS-MvfR, and several other sensory kinases and response regulators. A combination of environmental and genetic cues regulates the transition of the
P. aeruginosa
population to specific states. The current review is aimed at discussing key factors that promote physiologically distinct transitioning of the
P. aeruginosa
population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakthivel Ambreetha
- Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka - 560012, India
| | - Varsha Singh
- Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka - 560012, India
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Ebani VV. Bacterial Infections in Sea Turtles. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10050333. [PMID: 37235416 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10050333] [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: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Sea turtles are important for the maintenance of marine and beach ecosystems, but they are seriously endangered due to factors mainly related to human activities and climate change such as pollution, temperature increase, and predation. Infectious and parasitic diseases may contribute to reducing the number of sea turtles. Bacteria are widespread in marine environments and, depending on the species, may act as primary or opportunistic pathogens. Most of them are able to infect other animal species, including humans, in which they can cause mild or severe diseases. Therefore, direct or indirect contact of humans with sea turtles, their products, and environment where they live represent a One Health threat. Chlamydiae, Mycobacteria, and Salmonellae are known zoonotic agents able to cause mild or severe diseases in sea turtles, other animals, and humans. However, other bacteria that are potentially zoonotic, including those that are antimicrobially resistant, are involved in different pathologies of marine turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Virginia Ebani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Centre for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Zeng Y, Xiong Y, Yang C, He N, He J, Luo W, Chen Y, Zeng X, Wu Z. Investigation of Parasitic Infection in Crocodile Lizards ( Shinisaurus crocodilurus) Using High-Throughput Sequencing. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12202726. [PMID: 36290112 PMCID: PMC9597849 DOI: 10.3390/ani12202726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The highly endangered crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) continues to be impacted by disease, especially in captive breeding populations. In this paper, based on high-throughput sequencing, we investigated parasitic infections in captive and wild crocodile lizard populations in the Daguishan National Nature Reserve and Guangdong Luokeng Shinisaurus crocodilurus National Nature Reserve. The results show that the overall parasitic infection rate in crocodile lizards was 33.33% (23/69). Four parasite genera were detected, including Eimeria, Cryptosporidium, Nematopsis, and Acanthamoeba, with infection rates of 15.94% (11/69), 17.39% (12/69), 7.25% (5/69), and 4.35% (3/69), respectively. Significant differences in the infection rate were found between the different parasite species (χ2 = 8.54, p < 0.05, chi-squared test). The parasitic infection rates in the captive and wild populations were 39.29% (22/56) and 7.69% (1/13), respectively, which were significantly different (p < 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). However, no significant differences in the infection rates of the four parasite genera were found between the captive and wild populations (p > 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). The parasitic infection rates in Daguishan and Luokeng were 34.09% (15/44) and 32.00% (8/25), respectively, which were not significantly different (p > 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). However, significant differences in terms of species were found in the two reserves (p < 0.01, Fisher’s exact test). Only Cryptosporidium infection showed a significant difference between the two regions (p < 0.01, Fisher’s exact test). Our results suggest that captive crocodile lizards are more susceptible to parasitic diseases than wild crocodile lizards and that Cryptosporidium infection varies by geographical region. This study provides basic information about the parasites of endangered crocodile lizards, as well as a reference for disease control and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongru Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin 541004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, College of Life Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Yi Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin 541004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, College of Life Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Chunsheng Yang
- Daguishan National Nature Reserve for Crocodile Lizards, Hezhou 542824, China
| | - Nan He
- Guangdong Luokeng Shinisaurus crocodilurus National Nature Reserve, Shaoguan 512100, China
| | - Jiasong He
- Daguishan National Nature Reserve for Crocodile Lizards, Hezhou 542824, China
| | - Wenxian Luo
- Daguishan National Nature Reserve for Crocodile Lizards, Hezhou 542824, China
| | - Yaohuan Chen
- Daguishan National Nature Reserve for Crocodile Lizards, Hezhou 542824, China
| | - Xiaochen Zeng
- Daguishan National Nature Reserve for Crocodile Lizards, Hezhou 542824, China
| | - Zhengjun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin 541004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, College of Life Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-135-1783-6091
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