scholarly journals Comparison of the fecal microbiota of two free-ranging Chinese subspecies of the leopard (Panthera pardus) using high-throughput sequencing

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siyu Han ◽  
Yu Guan ◽  
Hailong Dou ◽  
Haitao Yang ◽  
Meng Yao ◽  
...  

The analysis of gut microbiota using fecal samples provides a non-invasive approach to understand the complex interactions between host species and their intestinal bacterial community. However, information on gut microbiota for wild endangered carnivores is scarce. The goal of this study was to describe the gut microbiota of two leopard subspecies, the Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) and North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis). Fecal samples from the Amur leopard (n = 8) and North Chinese leopard (n = 13) were collected in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park and Shanxi Tieqiaoshan Provincial Nature Reserve in China, respectively. The gut microbiota of leopards was analyzed via high-throughput sequencing of the V3–V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA gene using the Life Ion S5™ XL platform. A total of 1,413,825 clean reads representing 4,203 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected. For Amur leopard samples, Firmicutes (78.4%) was the dominant phylum, followed by Proteobacteria (9.6%) and Actinobacteria (7.6%). And for the North Chinese leopard, Firmicutes (68.6%), Actinobacteria (11.6%) and Fusobacteria (6.4%) were the most predominant phyla. Clostridiales was the most diverse bacterial order with 37.9% for Amur leopard and 45.7% for North Chinese leopard. Based on the beta-diversity analysis, no significant difference was found in the bacterial community composition between the Amur leopard and North Chinese leopard samples. The current study provides the initial data about the composition and structure of the gut microbiota for wild Amur leopards and North Chinese leopards, and has laid the foundation for further investigations of the health, dietary preferences and physiological regulation of leopards.

Author(s):  
Bridget M Whitney ◽  
Sujatha Srinivasan ◽  
Kenneth Tapia ◽  
Eric Munene Muriuki ◽  
Bhavna H Chohan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The vaginal microbiome plays a key role in women’s reproductive health. Use of exogenous hormones, such as intramuscular depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM), may alter the composition of vaginal bacterial community. Methods Vaginal swabs were collected from postpartum Kenyan women initiating DMPA-IM or non-hormonal contraception (non-HC). Bacterial vaginosis was assessed by Nugent score (Nugent-BV) and bacterial community composition was evaluated using broad-range 16S rRNA gene PCR with high-throughput sequencing. Changes in Nugent score, alpha diversity (Shannon diversity index), and total bacterial load between contraceptive groups from enrollment to three-months post-initiation were estimated using multivariable linear mixed effects regression. Results Among 54 HIV-negative women, 33 choosing DMPA-IM and 21 choosing non-HC, Nugent-BV was more common among DMPA-IM users at enrollment. At follow-up, Nugent score had decreased significantly among DMPA-IM users (Δ=-1.89 (95%CI:-3.53, -0.25; p=0.02) while alpha diversity remained stable (Δ=0.03, 95%CI:-0.24, 0.30; p=0.83). Conversely, Nugent score remained relatively stable among non-HC users (Δ=-0.73, 95%CI:-2.18, 0.73; p=0.33) while alpha diversity decreased (Δ=-0.34, 95%CI:-0.67, -0.001; p=0.05). Total bacterial load decreased slightly in DMPA-IM users and increased slightly among non-HC users, resulting in a significant difference in change between the contraceptive groups (difference=-0.64 log10 gene copies/swab, 95%CI:-1.19, -0.08; p=0.02). While significant changes in Nugent score and alpha diversity were observed within contraceptive groups, changes between groups were not significantly different. Conclusions Postpartum vaginal bacterial diversity did not change in DMPA-IM users despite a reduction in Nugent-BV, but decreased significantly among women using non-HC. Choice of contraception may influence Lactobacillus recovery in postpartum women.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Daghio ◽  
Francesca Ciucci ◽  
Arianna Buccioni ◽  
Alice Cappucci ◽  
Laura Casarosa ◽  
...  

The use of rustic cattle is desirable to face challenges brought on by climate change. Maremmana (MA) and Aubrac (AU) are rustic cattle breeds that can be successfully used for sustainable production. In this study, correlations between two rearing systems (feedlot and grazing) and the rumen microbiota, the lipid composition of rumen liquor (RL), and the growth performance of MA and AU steers were investigated. Bacterial community composition was characterized by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, and the RL lipid composition was determined by measuring fatty acid (FA) and the dimethyl acetal profiles. The main factor influencing bacterial community composition was the cattle breed. Some bacterial groups were positively correlated to average daily weight gain for the two breeds (i.e., Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Fibrobacter and Succiniclasticum in the rumen of MA steers, and Succinivibrionaceae UCG-002 in the rumen of AU steers); despite this, animal performance appeared to be influenced by short chain FAs production pathways and by the presence of H2 sinks that divert the H2 to processes alternative to the methanogenesis.


Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Wang ◽  
Qing Wang ◽  
Yufeng Yang ◽  
Wenbo Yu

Aquatic invertebrate diversity reflects water quality and the health of aquatic ecosystems and should be monitored as an essential feature of freshwater ecosystems. The resting eggs of aquatic invertebrates in sediments populate the overlying water. The diversity of invertebrates in waters and their resting eggs in sediments in Baiyangdian Lake, Xiongan, North China, were assessed using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) with a pair of 18S rRNA gene adaptor-linked primers. The total of 99 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) derived from 353,755 invertebrate sequences (mostly zooplankton) were revealed by this study. A total of 50 species in the water samples including 20 rotifers, 11 copepods, 1 cladoceran and 18 other species were sorted out. In the sediment 37 species, including 21 rotifers, 3 copepods, 1 cladoceran and 12 other species, were identified. There were 24 species in common between water and corresponding sediments. Invertebrate OTU richness in water samples was higher than that in sediments (p < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in the Shannon-Wiener index. These results suggest that HTS is a promising alternative for efficient biodiversity assessment and monitoring.


2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 3525-3536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikea Ulrich ◽  
Abigail Rosenberger ◽  
Colin Brislawn ◽  
Justin Wright ◽  
Collin Kessler ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBacterial community composition and longitudinal fluctuations were monitored in a riverine system during and after Superstorm Sandy to better characterize inter- and intracommunity responses associated with the disturbance associated with a 100-year storm event. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to assess microbial community structure within water samples from Muddy Creek Run, a second-order stream in Huntingdon, PA, at 12 different time points during the storm event (29 October to 3 November 2012) and under seasonally matched baseline conditions. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to track changes in bacterial community structure and divergence during and after Superstorm Sandy. Bacterial community dynamics were correlated to measured physicochemical parameters and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentrations. Bioinformatics analyses of 2.1 million 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed a significant increase in bacterial diversity in samples taken during peak discharge of the storm. Beta-diversity analyses revealed longitudinal shifts in the bacterial community structure. Successional changes were observed, in whichBetaproteobacteriaandGammaproteobacteriadecreased in 16S rRNA gene relative abundance, while the relative abundance of members of theFirmicutesincreased. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequences matching pathogenic bacteria, including strains ofLegionella,Campylobacter,Arcobacter, andHelicobacter, as well as bacteria of fecal origin (e.g.,Bacteroides), exhibited an increase in abundance after peak discharge of the storm. This study revealed a significant restructuring of in-stream bacterial community structure associated with hydric dynamics of a storm event.IMPORTANCEIn order to better understand the microbial risks associated with freshwater environments during a storm event, a more comprehensive understanding of the variations in aquatic bacterial diversity is warranted. This study investigated the bacterial communities during and after Superstorm Sandy to provide fine time point resolution of dynamic changes in bacterial composition. This study adds to the current literature by revealing the variation in bacterial community structure during the course of a storm. This study employed high-throughput DNA sequencing, which generated a deep analysis of inter- and intracommunity responses during a significant storm event. This study has highlighted the utility of applying high-throughput sequencing for water quality monitoring purposes, as this approach enabled a more comprehensive investigation of the bacterial community structure. Altogether, these data suggest a drastic restructuring of the stream bacterial community during a storm event and highlight the potential of high-throughput sequencing approaches for assessing the microbiological quality of our environment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 114-115
Author(s):  
Nirosh D Aluthge ◽  
Wesley A Tom ◽  
Alison C Bartenslager ◽  
Thomas E Burkey ◽  
Kelly D Heath ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare the establishment of human fecal bacterial communities in porcine and murine animal models. Many gut microbiota studies use human microbiota-associated (HMA) rodents as translational animal models; however, it has been questioned as to how successfully a human microbiota can be established in rodents considering the many differences that exist between rodents and humans. The domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) has many anatomical, physiological, and immunological similarities to humans and has been widely used as a model for humans in biomedical and nutritional studies. Thus, the porcine model may be an alternative to rodent models in gut microbiota research. The current study was designed to evaluate the establishment of the same human donor microbiota in the rodent and pig models. Both germ-free piglets and mice (C3H/HeN) were transplanted with fecal microbiota from four human donors: Infant (0–5 m), child (1–12 yrs), adult (18–64 yrs), and elderly (65+ yrs). To monitor the establishment of the transplanted microbiota, weekly fecal samples were collected for 5 wks. All fecal samples were subjected to 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing using the Illumina MiSeqTM platform to characterize bacterial community composition. Unweighted unifrac distances were compared between the bacterial communities of the human donor and the corresponding HMA porcine and murine fecal samples. Statistical significance was tested using the Mann-Whitney U test (P = 0.05). This analysis suggested that more taxa are colonized in the mice compared to the piglets receiving the same infant donor microbiota, while for the child, adult, and elderly donors, the piglet model established the human donor microbiota better than the mice receiving the same donor samples. This suggests that in the latter stages of human development, more species of the human fecal inoculum colonizes the pig gut compared to the mouse gut.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9122
Author(s):  
Li Chen ◽  
Yuzhu Li ◽  
Lei Jin ◽  
Li He ◽  
Xiaolin Ao ◽  
...  

“Yibin Baijiu” (YB) is a special Chinese strong-aroma Baijiu (CSAB) that originated in Yibin, a city in western China. YB is fermented in cellars lined with pit mud (PM), the microbiota in which may affect YB quality. In this study, high throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to demonstrate the bacterial community structure and diversity in PM of YB. In addition, the physicochemical characteristics of PM were also analyzed, including moisture content, pH, and available phosphorous, ammonia nitrogen, and humic acid levels. Results showed that Firmicutes was the dominant phylum in all PM samples with abundance > 70.0%, followed by Euryarchaeota (11.3%), Bacteroidetes (6.5%), Synergistetes (3.0%), Actinobacteria (1.4%), and Proteobacteria (1.2%). Furthermore, 14 different genera with average relative abundance of > 1% were detected. The Chao1 and Shannon indexes did not vary significantly between the sub-layer and middle-layer PM (P > 0.05). However, Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis showed that the relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the sub-layer PM was significantly higher than in middle-layer PM. pH differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the two groups. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that bacterial community in PM correlated significantly with available phosphorous content and pH. Our study provides basic data for further elucidating the diversity of microbiota in the PM of YB and the potential mechanism of Baijiu production.


2014 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 657-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinfeng Liu ◽  
Hanlu Fan ◽  
Xiangbin Ding ◽  
Zhongshan Hong ◽  
Yongwei Nei ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (12) ◽  
pp. e02797-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dandi Hou ◽  
Zhi Lin ◽  
Runze Wang ◽  
Jun Ge ◽  
Shuai Wei ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTRhizospheric bacteria play important roles in plant tolerance and activation of heavy metals. Understanding the bacterial rhizobiome of hyperaccumulators may contribute to the development of optimized phytoextraction for metal-polluted soils. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to investigate the rhizospheric bacterial communities of the cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulating ecotype (HE)Sedum alfrediiin comparison to its nonhyperaccumulating ecotype (NHE). Both planting of two ecotypes ofS. alfrediiand elevated Cd levels significantly decreased bacterial alpha-diversity and altered bacterial community structure in soils. The HE rhizosphere harbored a unique bacterial community differing from those in its bulk soil and NHE counterparts. Several key taxa fromActinobacteria,Bacteroidetes, and TM7 were especially abundant in HE rhizospheres under high Cd stress. The actinobacterial genusStreptomyceswas responsible for the majority of the divergence of bacterial community composition between the HE rhizosphere and other soil samples. In the HE rhizosphere, the abundance ofStreptomyceswas 3.31- to 16.45-fold higher than that in other samples under high Cd stress. These results suggested that both the presence of the hyperaccumulatorS. alfrediiand Cd exposure select for a specialized rhizosphere bacterial community during phytoextraction of Cd-contaminated soils and that key taxa, such as the species affiliated with the genusStreptomyces, may play an important role in metal hyperaccumulation.IMPORTANCESedum alfrediiis a well-known Cd hyperaccumulator native to China. Its potential for extracting Cd relies not only on its powerful uptake, translocation, and tolerance for Cd but also on processes underground (especially rhizosphere microbes) that facilitate root uptake and tolerance of the metal. In this study, a high-throughput sequencing approach was applied to gain insight into the soil-plant-microbe interactions that may influence Cd accumulation in the hyperaccumulatorS. alfredii. Here, we report the investigation of rhizosphere bacterial communities ofS. alfrediiin phytoremediation of different levels of Cd contamination in soils. Moreover, some key taxa in its rhizosphere identified in the study, such as the species affiliated with genusStreptomyces, may shed new light on the involvement of bacteria in phytoextraction of contaminated soils and provide new materials for phytoremediation optimization.


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