Climate change drives loss of bacterial gut mutualists at the expense of host survival in wild meerkats

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(20), P. 5816 - 5828

Published: July 24, 2023

Abstract Climate change and climate‐driven increases in infectious disease threaten wildlife populations globally. Gut microbial responses are predicted to either buffer or exacerbate the negative impacts of these twin pressures on host populations. However, examples that document how gut communities respond long‐term shifts climate associated risk, consequences for survival, rare. Over past two decades, wild meerkats inhabiting Kalahari have experienced rapidly rising temperatures, which is linked spread tuberculosis (TB). We show over same period, faecal microbiota this population has become enriched Bacteroidia impoverished lactic acid bacteria (LAB), a group including Lactococcus Lactobacillus considered mutualists. These occurred within individuals yet were compounded generations, better explained by mean maximum temperatures than rainfall previous year. Enriched additionally with TB exposure disease, dry season poorer body condition, factors all directly reduced future survival. Lastly, abundances LAB taxa independently positively while did not predict Together, results point towards extreme driving an expansion disease‐associated pathobiome loss beneficial taxa. Our study provides first evidence from longitudinally sampled restructuring microbiota, changes may amplify through While plastic response host‐associated microbiotas key adaptation under normal environmental fluctuations, temperature might lead breakdown coevolved host–mutualist relationships.

Language: Английский

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Universal gut microbial relationships in the gut microbiome of wild baboons

eLife, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: May 9, 2023

Ecological relationships between bacteria mediate the services that gut microbiomes provide to their hosts. Knowing overall direction and strength of these is essential learn how ecology scales up affect microbiome assembly, dynamics, host health. However, whether bacterial are generalizable across hosts or personalized individual debated. Here, we apply a robust, multinomial logistic-normal modeling framework extensive time series data (5534 samples from 56 baboon over 13 years) infer thousands correlations in abundance baboons test degree which 'universal'. We also compare patterns two human sets. find that, most weak, negative, universal hosts, such shared correlation dominate host-specific by almost twofold. Further, taxon pairs had inconsistent signs (either positive negative) different always weak within From perspective, with similar taxonomic compositions tended be genetic relatives. Compared humans, universality was infants, stronger than one set adults. Bacterial families showed infants were often baboons. Together, our work contributes new tools for analyzing associations implications personalization, community stability, designing interventions improve health.Communities living guts humans other animals perform as digesting food, degrading toxins, fighting viruses cause disease. These emerge so-called ‘ecological’ species bacteria. One species, example, may break down molecule food into another compound is, turn, digested small can absorb use. The involved process become more less common together host. In situations, some have opposing roles each other, meaning if becomes abundant it reduce level other. not known consistent (i.e., universal) unique (personalized). words, pair increase decrease host, do they same hosts? Microbes swap genes gain traits; harbors distinctive microbes, possible microbial change depending on present specific environment. To investigate, Roche et al. studied feces collected 13-year period. came long-term research project Amboseli, Kenya has been studying population wild continuously since 1971. measured hundreds understand pairs. This revealed connections largely rather baboon. Furthermore, strongest negative Microbial strong effects microbiome’s composition might therefore especially universal. Further analyses measuring babies found Hence, fill ecological primates, perhaps mammals. findings suggest leverage develop therapies diseases associated bacteria, inflammatory bowel disease Clostridium difficile infection.

Language: Английский

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Individual variation in the avian gut microbiota: The influence of host state and environmental heterogeneity

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(12), P. 3322 - 3339

Published: March 12, 2023

Abstract The gut microbiota have important consequences for host biological processes and there is some evidence that they also affect fitness. However, the complex, interactive nature of ecological factors influence has scarcely been investigated in natural populations. We sampled wild great tits ( Parus major ) at different life stages allowing us to evaluate how varied with respect a diverse range key two broad types: (1) state, namely age sex, history variables, timing breeding, fecundity reproductive success; (2) environment, including habitat type, distance nest woodland edge, general site environments. environment many ways were largely dependent on age. Nestlings far more sensitive environmental variation than adults, pointing high degree flexibility an time development. As nestlings developed their from one weeks life, retained consistent (i.e., repeatable) among‐individual differences. However these apparent individual differences driven entirely by effect sharing same nest. Our findings point early windows during development which are most variety drivers multiple scales, suggest timing, hence potentially parental quality or food availability, linked microbiota. Identifying explicating various sources shape individual's bacteria vital importance understanding microbiota's role animal

Language: Английский

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Longitudinal gut microbiome dynamics in relation to age and senescence in a wild animal population

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(16)

Published: July 16, 2024

Abstract In humans, gut microbiome (GM) differences are often correlated with, and sometimes causally implicated in, ageing. However, it is unclear how these findings translate in wild animal populations. Studies that investigate GM dynamics change within individuals, with declines physiological condition, needed to fully understand links between chronological age, senescence the GM, but have rarely been done. Here, we use longitudinal data collected from a closed population of Seychelles warblers ( Acrocephalus sechellensis ) bacterial alpha diversity, composition stability associated host senescence. We hypothesised diversity will differ, become more variable, older adults, particularly terminal year prior death, as becomes increasingly dysregulated due remained largely invariable respect adult age did not differ an individual's year. Furthermore, there was no evidence became heterogenous senescent groups (individuals than 6 years), or Instead, environmental variables such season, territory quality time day, were strongest predictors variation warblers. These results contrast studies on captive populations some (but all) non‐human primates, suggesting deterioration may be universal hallmark species. Further work disentangle factors driving GM‐senescence relationships across different taxa.

Language: Английский

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Gut microbiota individuality is contingent on temporal scale and age in wild meerkats

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 289(1981)

Published: Aug. 17, 2022

Inter-individual differences in gut microbiota composition are hypothesized to generate variation host fitness-a premise for the evolution of host-gut microbe symbioses. However, recent evidence suggests that microbial communities highly dynamic, challenging notion individuals harbour unique phenotypes. Leveraging a long-term dataset wild meerkats, we reconcile these concepts by demonstrating relative importance identity shaping phenotypes depends on temporal scale. Across meerkat lifespan, year-to-year overshadowed effects and social group predicting composition, with explaining average less than 2% variation. was strongest predictor over short sampling intervals (less two months), 20% The effect also dependent age, becoming more individualized stable as meerkats aged. Nevertheless, while predictive power negligible after months, remained weakly compared other up 1 year. These findings illuminate degree which signatures can be expected, important implications time frames may mediate physiology, behaviour fitness natural populations.

Language: Английский

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Probing the functional significance of wild animal microbiomes using omics data

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 8, 2024

Abstract Host‐associated microbiomes are thought to play a key role in host physiology and fitness, but this conclusion mainly derives from systems biased towards animal models humans. While many studies on non‐model wild animals have characterised the taxonomic diversity of their microbiomes, few investigated functional potential these microbial communities. Functional ‘omics’ approaches, such as metagenomics, metatranscriptomics metabolomics, represent promising techniques probe significance host‐associated wild. In review, we propose (1) briefly define main available omics tools along with strengths limitations, (2) summarise advances enabled by understand microbiome function human models, (3) showcase examples how methods already brought invaluable insights into (4) provide guidelines implement address outstanding questions field microbiomes. To conclude, suggest that, building knowledge derived cheaper, more traditional approaches (e.g. 16S metabarcoding qPCR), approach test hypotheses regarding ecological evolutionary resident microbiota animals. Read free Plain Language Summary for article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Metagenomic analyses of gut microbiome composition and function with age in a wild bird; little change, except increased transposase gene abundance

ISME Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Studies on wild animals, mostly undertaken using 16S metabarcoding, have yielded ambiguous evidence regarding changes in the gut microbiome (GM) with age and senescence. Furthermore, variation GM function has rarely been studied such populations, despite metabolic characteristics potentially being associated host senescent declines. Here, we used 7 years of repeated sampling individuals shotgun metagenomic sequencing to investigate taxonomic functional Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis) age. Our results suggest that species richness declines terminal year, this decline occurring consistently across all ages. Taxonomic composition also shifted However, identified occurred linearly (or even mainly during early prior onset senescence species) little accelerated change later life or their year. Therefore, are not linked Interestingly, found a significant increase abundance group transposase genes age, which may accumulate passively due increased transposition induced as result stressors arise These findings reveal but senescence, vertebrate provide blueprint for future studies

Language: Английский

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Microbial solutions to dietary stress: experimental evolution reveals host–microbiome interplay in Drosophila melanogaster

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 292(2043)

Published: March 1, 2025

Can the microbiome serve as a reservoir of adaptive potential for hosts? To address this question, we leveraged approximately 150 generations experimental evolution in Drosophila melanogaster on stressful, high-sugar diet. We performed fully reciprocal transplant experiment using control and bacteria. If confers benefits to hosts, then recipients should gain fitness compared with controls. Interestingly, found that such exist, but their magnitude depends evolutionary history—mismatches between fly reduced fecundity potentially exerted costs, especially stressful The dominant bacteria ( Acetobacter pasteurianus ) uniquely encoded several genes enable uric acid degradation, mediating toxic effects accumulation due diet flies. Our study demonstrates host genotype × environment interactions have substantial phenotype, highlighting how ecological context together shape microbiome.

Language: Английский

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Comparative analyses of the gut microbiome of two sympatric rodent species, Myodes rufocanus and Apodemus peninsulae, in northeast China based on metagenome sequencing

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13, P. e19260 - e19260

Published: April 8, 2025

The gut microbiota is integral to an animal's physiology, influencing nutritional metabolism, immune function, and environmental adaptation. Despite the significance of in wild rodents, Korean field mouse (Apodemus peninsulae) gray red-backed vole (Myodes rufocanus) remain understudied. To address this, a metagenomic sequencing analysis microbiome these sympatric rodents northeast China's temperate forests was conducted. Intestinal contents were collected from A. peninsulae M. rufocanus within Mudanfeng National Nature Reserve. High-throughput elucidated microbiome's composition, diversity, functional pathways. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria identified as dominant phyla, with showing greater diversity. Key findings indicated distinct bacterial communities between species, having higher abundance Proteobacteria. differed marginally profiles, specifically breakdown complex carbohydrates, which might reflect their food preferences albeit both being herbivores substantial dietary overlap. investigation further microbiota's contributions energy metabolism adaptation mechanisms. This study aligns information on rodent literature highlights two understudied providing comparative data for future studies investigating role wildlife health ecosystem functioning.

Language: Английский

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Circadian rhythms of hosts and their gut microbiomes: Implications for animal physiology and ecology

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37(3), P. 476 - 487

Published: Jan. 5, 2023

Abstract Daily light–dark cycles shape the circadian physiology and behaviour of nearly all organisms, with variation in phenotypes having cascading effects on individual fitness, species interactions co‐evolution. Recent evidence that rhythms host immunity metabolism are synchronised by gut microbiota suggest dynamics microbes a crucial component their function. However, there remains little knowledge or understanding diurnal microbiomes natural populations consequences for ecology. Here, we summarise hallmarks oscillations reported to date mechanisms which they synchronise metabolism. We outline diverse biological processes such as pathogen susceptibility seasonal switches metabolism, discuss how breakdown these interactions, example during senescence because light pollution, may affect wildlife infection risk disease. also provide practical guidelines measurement microbial wildlife, highlighting whilst faecal samples wild animals rarely available over 24‐h period, characterising even parts cycle can be informative. An improved manifest is essential fully comprehend role shaping Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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