scholarly journals Fecal microbiota dysbiosis in macaques and humans within a shared environment

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Grant ◽  
Randall C. Kyes ◽  
Pensri Kyes ◽  
Pauline Trinh ◽  
Vickie Ramirez ◽  
...  

AbstractTraditional zoonotic disease research focuses on detection of recognized pathogens and may miss opportunities to understand broader microbial transmission dynamics between humans, animals, and the environment. We studied human-macaque microbiome overlap in Kosum Phisai District, Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand, where a growing population of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Kosumpee Forest Park interact with humans from an adjacent village. We surveyed workers in or near the park with elevated exposure to macaques to characterize tasks resulting in exposure to macaque feces in addition to dietary and lifestyle factors that influence gut microbiome composition. Fecal samples were collected from 12 exposed workers and 6 controls without macaque exposure, as well as 8 macaques from Kosumpee Forest Park and 4 from an isolated forest patch with minimal human contact. The V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene from fecal sample extracted DNA was amplified and sequenced using Illumina HiSeq to characterize the microbial community. A permuted betadisper test on the weighted UniFrac distances revealed significant differences in the dispersion patterns of gut microbiota from exposed and control macaques (p=0.03). The high variance in gut microbiota composition of macaques in contact with humans has potential implications for gut microbiome stability and susceptibility to disease, described by the Anna Karenina principle (AKP). Human samples had homogenous variance in beta diversity but different spatial medians between groups (p=0.02), indicating a shift in microbial composition that may be explained by fundamental lifestyle differences between the groups unrelated to exposure status. SourceTracker was used to estimate the percent of gut taxa in exposed humans that was contributed by macaques. While one worker showed evidence of elevated contribution, the overall trend was not significant. Task observations among workers revealed opportunities to employ protective measures or training to reduce exposure to occupational hazards. These results suggest the potential for hygiene measures to mitigate negative aspects of contact between humans and macaques in order to optimize the health of both populations.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artur Trzebny ◽  
Anna Slodkowicz-Kowalska ◽  
Johanna Björkroth ◽  
Miroslawa Dabert

AbstractThe animal gut microbiota consist of many different microorganisms, mainly bacteria, but archaea, fungi, protozoans, and viruses may also be present. This complex and dynamic community of microorganisms may change during parasitic infection. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the presence of microsporidians on the composition of the mosquito gut microbiota and linked some microbiome taxa and functionalities to infections caused by these parasites. We characterised bacterial communities of 188 mosquito females, of which 108 were positive for microsporidian DNA. To assess how bacterial communities change during microsporidian infection, microbiome structures were identified using 16S rRNA microbial profiling. In total, we identified 46 families and four higher taxa, of which Comamonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Flavobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae were the most abundant mosquito-associated bacterial families. Our data suggest that the mosquito gut microbial composition varies among host species. In addition, we found a correlation between the microbiome composition and the presence of microsporidians. The prediction of metagenome functional content from the 16S rRNA gene sequencing suggests that microsporidian infection is characterised by some bacterial species capable of specific metabolic functions, especially the biosynthesis of ansamycins and vancomycin antibiotics and the pentose phosphate pathway. Moreover, we detected a positive correlation between the presence of microsporidian DNA and bacteria belonging to Spiroplasmataceae and Leuconostocaceae, each represented by a single species, Spiroplasma sp. PL03 and Weissella cf. viridescens, respectively. Additionally, W. cf. viridescens was observed only in microsporidian-infected mosquitoes. More extensive research, including intensive and varied host sampling, as well as determination of metabolic activities based on quantitative methods, should be carried out to confirm our results.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jade E. Kenna ◽  
Eng Guan Chua ◽  
Megan Bakeberg ◽  
Alfred Tay ◽  
Sarah McGregor ◽  
...  

Background: There has been increasing recognition of the importance of the gut microbiome in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the influence of geographic location has received little attention. The present study characterized the gut microbiota and associated changes in host metabolic pathways in an Australian cohort of people with PD (PwP).Methods: The study involved recruitment and assessment of 87 PwP from multiple Movement Disorders Clinics in Australia and 47 healthy controls. Illumina sequencing of the V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene was used to distinguish inter-cohort differences in gut microbiota; KEGG analysis was subsequently performed to predict functional changes in host metabolic pathways.Results: The current findings identified significant differences in relative abundance and diversity of microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs), and specific bacterial taxa between PwP and control groups. Alpha diversity was significantly reduced in PwP when compared to controls. Differences were found in two phyla (Synergistetes and Proteobacteria; both increased in PwP), and five genera (Colidextribacter, Intestinibacter, Kineothrix, Agathobaculum, and Roseburia; all decreased in PwP). Within the PD cohort, there was no association identified between microbial composition and gender, constipation or use of gastrointestinal medication. Furthermore, KEGG analysis identified 15 upregulated and 11 downregulated metabolic pathways which were predicted to be significantly altered in PwP.Conclusion: This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of the gut microbiome and predicted functional metabolic effects in a southern hemisphere PD population, further exploring the possible mechanisms whereby the gut microbiota may exert their influence on this disease, and providing evidence for the incorporation of such data in future individualized therapeutic strategies.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
jianjun Chen ◽  
Shanshan Zhang ◽  
Chang Chen ◽  
Xuejun Jiang ◽  
Jingfu Qiu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Gut microbiome can be readily influenced by external factors, such as diet, antibiotic, bacterial/viral infection and environmental toxicants. Gut microbiota-mediated effects of engineered nanomaterials as such become the new frontiers in nanotoxicology. Methods An integrated approach combining 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics was used to determine the potential mechanistic pathway by which disturbed gut microbiota induced by ZnONPs might modulate host physiology and neurobehavior. Results Herein, we showed oral exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), one typical kinds of nanomaterials used widely in the food industry, could cause the neurobehavioral dysfunctions in mice, manifested by spatial learning and memory deficits and locomotor activity inhibition. Our mechanistic results elucidated that ZnONPs exposure led to a marked disturbance of gut microbial composition but did not alter the microbiome α-diversity indexes. We also provided new evidence that neurobehavioral impairments induced by ZnONPs was closely associated with perturbation in the gut microbiota composition that were both specific to changes of neurobehavior-related genes (such as Bdnf and Dlg4 ) and correlated with serum and hippocampal metabolic disorders. Our data further identified a unique metabolite [DG(15:0/0:0/22:4n6)] that linked the relationships among gut microbiota, metabolites and neurobehavior-related genes. Conclusions ZnONPs exposure not only alters the gut microbiome community but also substantially disturbs its metabolic profiles, and therefore leading to neurobehavioral impairments vi gut-brain axis. These findings will provide a novel view for understanding the ZnONPs neurotoxicity through gut-brain axis and may lead to new potential prevention and treatment strategies.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woorim Kang ◽  
Pil Soo Kim ◽  
Euon Jung Tak ◽  
Hojun Sung ◽  
Na-Ri Shin ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundCompared to vertebrate gut microbiomes, little is known about the factors shaping the gut microbiomes in invertebrates, especially in non-insect invertebrates. Class Cephalopoda is the only group in the phylum Mollusca characterized by a closed circulatory system and a well-differentiated digestive system to process their carnivorous diet. Despite their key phylogenetic position for comparative studies as well as their ecological and commercial importances, analyses of the cephalopod gut microbiome are limited. In this study, we characterized the gut microbiota of six species of wild cephalopods by Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons.ResultsEach cephalopod gut consisted of a distinct consortium of microbes. Photobacterium and Mycoplasma were prevalent in all cephalopod hosts and were identified as core taxa. The gut microbial composition reflected host phylogeny. The importance of host phylogeny was supported by a detailed oligotype-level analysis of operational taxonomic units assigned to Photobacterium and Mycoplasma, although Photobacterium typically inhabited multiple hosts, whereas Mycoplasma tended to show host-specific colonization. Further, we showed that class Cephalopoda has a distinct gut microbial community from those of other molluscan groups. The gut microbiota of the phylum Mollusca was determined by host phylogeny, diet, and environment (aquatic vs. terrestrial).ConclusionWe provide the first comparative analysis of cephalopod and mollusk gut microbial communities. The gut microbial community of cephalopods is composed of the distinctive microbes and strongly associated with their phylogeny. The genera Photobacterium and Mycoplasma are core taxa in the cephalopod gut microbiota. Collectively, our findings of this study provide evidence that cephalopod and mollusk gut microbiomes reflect phylogeny, environment, and the diet of the host and these data can be suggested to establish future directions for invertebrate gut microbiome research.


mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice V. Easton ◽  
Mariam Quiñones ◽  
Ivan Vujkovic-Cvijin ◽  
Rita G. Oliveira ◽  
Stella Kepha ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Murine studies suggest that the presence of some species of intestinal helminths is associated with changes in host microbiota composition and diversity. However, studies in humans have produced varied conclusions, and the impact appears to vary widely depending on the helminth species present. To demonstrate how molecular approaches to the human gut microbiome can provide insights into the complex interplay among disparate organisms, DNA was extracted from cryopreserved stools collected from residents of 5 rural Kenyan villages prior to and 3 weeks and 3 months following albendazole (ALB) therapy. Samples were analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) for the presence of 8 species of intestinal parasites and by MiSeq 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Based on pretreatment results, the presence of neither Ascaris lumbricoides nor Necator americanus infection significantly altered the overall diversity of the microbiota in comparison with age-matched controls. Following ALB therapy and clearance of soil-transmitted helminths (STH), there were significant increases in the proportion of the microbiota made up by Clostridiales (P = 0.0002; average fold change, 0.57) and reductions in the proportion made up by Enterobacteriales (P = 0.0004; average fold change, −0.58). There was a significant posttreatment decrease in Chao1 richness, even among individuals who were uninfected pretreatment, suggesting that antimicrobial effects must be considered in any posttreatment setting. Nevertheless, the helminth-associated changes in Clostridiales and Enterobacteriales suggest that clearance of STH, and of N. americanus in particular, alters the gut microbiota. IMPORTANCE The gut microbiome is an important factor in human health. It is affected by what we eat, what medicines we take, and what infections we acquire. In turn, it affects the way we absorb nutrients and whether we have excessive intestinal inflammation. Intestinal worms may have an important impact on the composition of the gut microbiome. Without a complete understanding of the impact of mass deworming programs on the microbiome, it is impossible to accurately calculate the cost-effectiveness of such public health interventions and to guard against any possible deleterious side effects. Our research examines this question in a “real-world” setting, using a longitudinal cohort, in which individuals with and without worm infections are treated with deworming medication and followed up at both three weeks and three months posttreatment. We quantify the impact of roundworms and hookworms on gut microbial composition, suggesting that the impact is small, but that treatment of hookworm infection results in significant changes. This work points to the need for follow-up studies to further examine the impact of hookworm on the gut microbiota and determine the health consequences of the observed changes.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woorim Kang ◽  
Pil Soo Kim ◽  
Euon Jung Tak ◽  
Hojun Sung ◽  
Na-Ri Shin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Compared to vertebrate gut microbiomes, little is known about the factors shaping the gut microbiomes in invertebrates, especially in non-insect invertebrates. Class Cephalopoda is the only group in the phylum Mollusca characterized by a closed circulatory system and a well-differentiated digestive system to process their carnivorous diet. Despite their key phylogenetic position for comparative studies as well as their ecological and commercial importances, analyses of the cephalopod gut microbiome are limited. In this study, we characterized the gut microbiota of six species of wild cephalopods by Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons.Results: Each cephalopod gut consisted of a distinct consortium of microbes. Photobacterium and Mycoplasma were prevalent in all cephalopod hosts and were identified as core taxa. The gut microbial composition reflected host phylogeny. The importance of host phylogeny was supported by a detailed oligotype-level analysis of operational taxonomic units assigned to Photobacterium and Mycoplasma, although Photobacterium typically inhabited multiple hosts, whereas Mycoplasma tended to show host-specific colonization. Further, we showed that class Cephalopoda has a distinct gut microbial community from those of other molluscan groups. The gut microbiota of the phylum Mollusca was determined by host phylogeny, diet, and environment (aquatic vs. terrestrial).Conclusion: We provide the first comparative analysis of cephalopod and mollusk gut microbial communities. The gut microbial community of cephalopods is composed of the distinctive microbes and strongly associated with their phylogeny. The genera Photobacterium and Mycoplasma are core taxa in the cephalopod gut microbiota. Collectively, our findings of this study provide evidence that cephalopod and mollusk gut microbiomes reflect phylogeny, environment, and the diet of the host and these data can be suggested to establish future directions for invertebrate gut microbiome research.


Life ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 254
Author(s):  
Ying Wang ◽  
Jianqing Zhu ◽  
Jie Fang ◽  
Li Shen ◽  
Shuojia Ma ◽  
...  

We characterized the gut microbial composition and relative abundance of gut bacteria in the larvae and adults of Pieris canidia by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The gut microbiota structure was similar across the life stages and sexes. The comparative functional analysis on P. canidia bacterial communities with PICRUSt showed the enrichment of several pathways including those for energy metabolism, immune system, digestive system, xenobiotics biodegradation, transport, cell growth and death. The parameters often used as a proxy of insect fitness (development time, pupation rate, emergence rate, adult survival rate and weight of 5th instars larvae) showed a significant difference between treatment group and untreated group and point to potential fitness advantages with the gut microbiomes in P. canidia. These data provide an overall view of the bacterial community across the life stages and sexes in P. canidia.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 246
Author(s):  
Felix C.F. Schmitt ◽  
Martin Schneider ◽  
William Mathejczyk ◽  
Markus A. Weigand ◽  
Jane C. Figueiredo ◽  
...  

Changes in the gut microbiome have already been associated with postoperative complications in major abdominal surgery. However, it is still unclear whether these changes are transient or a long-lasting effect. Therefore, the aim of this prospective clinical pilot study was to examine long-term changes in the gut microbiota and to correlate these changes with the clinical course of the patient. Methods: In total, stool samples of 62 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients undergoing primary tumor resection were analyzed by 16S-rDNA next-generation sequencing. Stool samples were collected preoperatively in order to determine the gut microbiome at baseline as well as at 6, 12, and 24 months thereafter to observe longitudinal changes. Postoperatively, the study patients were separated into two groups—patients who suffered from postoperative complications (n = 30) and those without complication (n = 32). Patients with postoperative complications showed a significantly stronger reduction in the alpha diversity starting 6 months after operation, which does not resolve, even after 24 months. The structure of the microbiome was also significantly altered from baseline at six-month follow-up in patients with complications (p = 0.006). This was associated with a long-lasting decrease of a large number of species in the gut microbiota indicating an impact in the commensal microbiota and a long-lasting increase of Fusobacterium ulcerans. The microbial composition of the gut microbiome shows significant changes in patients with postoperative complications up to 24 months after surgery.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 294
Author(s):  
Irina Grigor’eva ◽  
Tatiana Romanova ◽  
Natalia Naumova ◽  
Tatiana Alikina ◽  
Alexey Kuznetsov ◽  
...  

The last decade saw extensive studies of the human gut microbiome and its relationship to specific diseases, including gallstone disease (GSD). The information about the gut microbiome in GSD-afflicted Russian patients is scarce, despite the increasing GSD incidence worldwide. Although the gut microbiota was described in some GSD cohorts, little is known regarding the gut microbiome before and after cholecystectomy (CCE). By using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, we inventoried the fecal bacteriobiome composition and structure in GSD-afflicted females, seeking to reveal associations with age, BMI and some blood biochemistry. Overall, 11 bacterial phyla were identified, containing 916 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The fecal bacteriobiome was dominated by Firmicutes (66% relative abundance), followed by Bacteroidetes (19%), Actinobacteria (8%) and Proteobacteria (4%) phyla. Most (97%) of the OTUs were minor or rare species with ≤1% relative abundance. Prevotella and Enterocossus were linked to blood bilirubin. Some taxa had differential pre- and post-CCE abundance, despite the very short time (1–3 days) elapsed after CCE. The detailed description of the bacteriobiome in pre-CCE female patients suggests bacterial foci for further research to elucidate the gut microbiota and GSD relationship and has potentially important biological and medical implications regarding gut bacteria involvement in the increased GSD incidence rate in females.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 117693432199635
Author(s):  
Daoxin Liu ◽  
Pengfei Song ◽  
Jingyan Yan ◽  
Haijing Wang ◽  
Zhenyuan Cai ◽  
...  

Wild-caught animals must cope with drastic lifestyle and dietary changes after being induced to captivity. How the gut microbiome structure of these animals will change in response receives increasing attention. The plateau zokor ( Eospalax baileyi), a typic subterranean rodent endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, spends almost the whole life underground and is well adapted to the environmental pressures of both plateau and underground. However, how the gut microbiome of the plateau zokor will change in response to captivity has not been reported to date. This study compared the microbial community structure and functions of 22 plateau zokors before (the WS group) and after being kept in captivity for 15 days (the LS group, fed on carrots) using the 16S rRNA gene via high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that the LS group retained 973 of the 977 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the WS group, and no new OTUs were found in the LS group. The dominant bacterial phyla were Bacteroides and Firmicutes in both groups. In alpha diversity analysis, the Shannon, Sobs, and ACE indexes of the LS group were significantly lower than those of the WS group. A remarkable difference ( P < 0.01) between groups was also detected in beta diversity analysis. The UPGMA clustering, NMDS, PCoA, and Anosim results all showed that the intergroup difference was significantly greater than the intragroup difference. And compared with the WS group, the intragroup difference of the gut microbiota in the LS group was much larger, which failed to support the assumption that similar diets should drive convergence of gut microbial communities. PICRUSt revealed that although some functional categories displayed significant differences between groups, the relative abundances of these categories were very close in both groups. Based on all the results, we conclude that as plateau zokors enter captivity for a short time, although the relative abundances of different gut microbiota categories shifted significantly, they can maintain almost all the OTUs and the functions of the gut microbiota in the wild. So, the use of wild-caught plateau zokors in gut microbial studies is acceptable if the time in captivity is short.


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