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Mena Canata DA, Benfato MS, Pereira FD, Ramos Pereira MJ, Hackenhaar FS, Mann MB, Frazzon APG, Rampelotto PH. Comparative Analysis of the Gut Microbiota of Bat Species with Different Feeding Habits. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:363. [PMID: 38927243 PMCID: PMC11200740 DOI: 10.3390/biology13060363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Bats are a diverse and ecologically important group of mammals that exhibit remarkable diversity in their feeding habits. These diverse feeding habits are thought to be reflected in the composition and function of their gut microbiota, which plays important roles in nutrient acquisition, immune function, and overall health. Despite the rich biodiversity of bat species in South America, there is a lack of microbiome studies focusing on bats from this region. Such studies could offer major insights into conservation efforts and the preservation of biodiversity in South America. In this work, we aimed to compare the gut microbiota of four bat species with different feeding habits from Southern Brazil, including nectarivorous, frugivorous, insectivorous, and hematophagous bats. Our findings demonstrate that feeding habits can have a significant impact on the diversity and composition of bat gut microbiotas, with each species exhibiting unique metabolic potentials related to their dietary niches. In addition, the identification of potentially pathogenic bacteria suggests that the carriage of microbial pathogens by bats may vary, depending on feeding habits and host-specific factors. These findings provide novel insights into the relationship between bat feeding habits and gut microbiota composition, highlighting the need to promote diverse habitats and food sources to support these ecologically important species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Antonio Mena Canata
- Biophysics Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Mara Silveira Benfato
- Biophysics Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Francielly Dias Pereira
- Biophysics Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - María João Ramos Pereira
- Graduate Program in Animal Biology, Laboratory of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology of Birds and Mammals, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | | | - Michele Bertoni Mann
- Graduate Program in Agricole and Environmental Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Guedes Frazzon
- Graduate Program in Agricole and Environmental Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Pabulo Henrique Rampelotto
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core Facility, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
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Destro ALF, Gonçalves DC, Alves TDS, Gregório KP, da Silva VM, Santos VR, de Castro OW, Filho HB, Garbino GST, Gonçalves RV, Oliveira JMD, Freitas MB. Iron and aluminum ore mining pollution induce oxidative and tissue damage on fruit-eating bats from the Atlantic Forest. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133285. [PMID: 38154190 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133285] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Mining, a vital industry for economic growth, poses significant environmental pollution challenges. Failures in tailings dam containment have caused environmental contamination and raised concerns about preserving the globally significant biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest, which is under severe threat. Fruit-eating bats are key for forest regeneration as essential seed dispersers and pollinators. This study focuses on two keystone species, Artibeus lituratus and Sturnira lilium, exploring the effects of iron ore mining area (FEOA) and aluminum ore mining area (ALOA) on these bats, respectively, and comparing to individuals from a preserved Atlantic Forest fragment (FFA). Bats from FEOA showed higher Aluminum (Al), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe) and Barium (Ba) liver accumulation, as well as Ca and Fe muscle accumulation. These animals also showed higher liver and kidney oxidative damage associated with liver fibrosis and kidney inflammation. Brain and muscle also showed oxidative stress. Bats from ALOA showed higher Ca and Ba liver accumulation and Ca, Zinc (Zn), and Ba muscle accumulation, along with higher brain oxidative stress, liver fibrosis, and kidney inflammation. Our findings indicate that iron and aluminum ore mining activities cause adverse effects on bat tissues, posing a potential threat to biodiversity maintenance in the Atlantic Forest.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hernando Baggio Filho
- Department of Geography, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | - Jerusa Maria de Oliveira
- Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil
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Mena Canata DA, Benfato MS, Pereira FD, Pereira MJR, Rampelotto PH. Distribution and Utilization of Vitamin E in Different Organs of Wild Bats from Different Food Groups. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:266. [PMID: 38398775 PMCID: PMC10890470 DOI: 10.3390/life14020266] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In this work, we examined the levels of vitamin E in the heart, liver, and kidneys of four species of adult male bats with distinct feeding habits. Our results indicate consistent vitamin E levels in the heart across all four bat species, suggesting the presence of regulatory mechanisms. Additionally, the liver displayed notably higher vitamin E levels in nectarivorous and frugivorous bats, while hematophagous bats exhibited lower levels, indicating a link between dietary intake and liver vitamin E levels. Furthermore, correlation analysis provided additional insights into the relationships between vitamin E and key antioxidant parameters in the livers of bats. On the other hand, no correlation was observed between vitamin E and key antioxidant parameters in the heart. Intriguingly, vitamin E was not detected in the kidneys, likely due to physiological factors and the prioritization of vitamin E mobilization in the heart, where it serves critical physiological functions. This unexpected absence of vitamin E in bat kidneys highlights the unique metabolic demands and prioritization of vitamin mobilization in wild animals like bats, compared to conventional animal models. These findings provide insight into the intricate distribution and utilization of vitamin E in bats, emphasizing the influence of dietary intake and metabolic adaptations on vitamin E levels in different organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Antonio Mena Canata
- Biophysics Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil
| | - Mara Silveira Benfato
- Biophysics Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil
| | - Francielly Dias Pereira
- Biophysics Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil
| | - María João Ramos Pereira
- Graduate Program in Animal Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil
| | - Pabulo Henrique Rampelotto
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core Facility, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-907, RS, Brazil
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