Early-life environmental effects on birds: epigenetics and microbiome as mechanisms underlying long-lasting phenotypic changes

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 227(Suppl_1)

Published: March 7, 2024

ABSTRACT Although the long-lasting effects of variation in early-life environment have been well documented across organisms, underlying causal mechanisms are only recently starting to be unraveled. Yet understanding can help us predict how organisms will respond changing environments. Birds offer a great system which study developmental plasticity and its owing production large external eggs trajectories, combined with long tradition applied, physiological, ecological evolutionary research. Epigenetic changes (such as DNA methylation) suggested key mechanism mediating taxa. More recently, gut microbiome identified another potential mediator plasticity. As first step whether these contribute birds, this Review summarizes (both prenatal postnatal) influence epigenetic markers microbiome. The literature shows both biotic resources social environment) abiotic (thermal various anthropogenic stressors) factors modify yet data concerning many other environmental limited. links modifications lasting phenotypic still scarce, but hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis one putative pathway. This identifies several knowledge gaps, including on long-term effects, stability molecular changes, lack diversity systems studied, provides directions for future

Language: Английский

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Stopover habitat selection drives variation in the gut microbiome composition and pathogen acquisition by migrating shorebirds

FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 100(5)

Published: March 21, 2024

Abstract Long-distance host movements play a major regulatory role in shaping microbial communities of their digestive tract. Here, we studied gut microbiota composition during seasonal migration five shorebird species (Charadrii) that use different migratory (stopover) habitats. Our analyses revealed significant interspecific variation both and diversity microbiome, but the effect identity was weak. A strong observed between coastal inland (dam reservoir river valley) stopover habitats within species. Comparisons age classes provided support for an increasing alpha ontogeny age-related remodeling microbiome composition. There was, however, no correlation diet across study Finally, detected high prevalence avian pathogens, which may cause zoonotic diseases humans (e.g. Vibrio cholerae) identified habitat as one axes bacterial pathogen exposure risk shorebirds. not only sheds new light on ecological processes shape microbiota, also has implications our better understanding host–pathogen interface birds long-distance transmission pathogens.

Language: Английский

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Early-life factors shaping the gut microbiota of Common buzzard nestlings

Animal Microbiome, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: May 14, 2024

Abstract Background Exploring the dynamics of gut microbiome colonisation during early-life stages is important for understanding potential impact microbes on host development and fitness. Evidence from model organisms suggests a crucial phase when shifts in microbiota can lead to immune dysregulation reduced condition. However, our long-lived vertebrates, especially early development, remains limited. We therefore used wild population common buzzard nestlings ( Buteo buteo ) investigate connections between colonisation, environmental factors. Results targeted both bacterial eukaryotic using 16S 28S rRNA genes. sampled individuals developmental longitudinal design. Our data revealed that age significantly affected microbial diversity composition. Nest environment was notable predictor composition, with particularly communities differing habitats occupied by hosts. Nestling condition infection blood parasite Leucocytozoon predicted community Conclusion findings emphasise importance studying capture changes occurring ontogeny. They highlight role reflecting health nest developing nestling microbiome. Overall, this study contributes complex interplay communities, factors, variables, sheds light ecological processes governing stages.

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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MICROBIOME: Microbiomes in birds: a review of links to health and reproduction

Reproduction and Fertility, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(3)

Published: July 1, 2024

Microbiomes have emerged as a key component essential for maintaining the health of an organism. Additionally, roles microbiomes are multifaceted, some unique to specific body areas and organs while others, particularly gut microbiome, having broader effects on entire Comparative literature is emerging that compares across mammals birds. Domestic poultry been most extensively studied relative their role in production agriculture. These data provided great deal information about diet nutritional requirements productivity, resilience diseases. Conversely, limited research has conducted wild birds, despite them inhabiting broad array ecological niches environments, providing rich diversity adaptations different habitats. Migratory birds raptors particular interest. encounter range ecosystems provide link between allopatric populations. Raptors occupy high positions food chain, with potential exposure biomagnification environmental contaminants pathogens. This review overviews our current understanding structure function avian related reproduction domestic highlighting knowledge gaps need further investigation more effective conservation rapidly declining Lay summary Birds among endangered organisms planet, vulnerable many challenges, including disease, loss habitat, shortage resources, climate-related change. They adapt these challenges survive flourish. While links diet, resistance infection, behavior well humans, laboratory animals, or captive comparatively little known associations wildlife, where expected be varied seasonal. especially true bird species. We available both toward furthering conservation.

Language: Английский

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Faecal metagenomes of great tits and blue tits provide insights into host, diet, pathogens and microbial biodiversity

Access Microbiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 7(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Background. The vertebrate gut microbiome plays crucial roles in host health and disease. However, there is limited information on the microbiomes of wild birds, most which restricted to barcode sequences. We therefore explored use shotgun metagenomics faecal two bird species widely used as model organisms ecological studies: great tit ( Parus major ) Eurasian blue Cyanistes caeruleus ). Results. Short-read sequencing five samples generated a metagenomic dataset, revealing substantial variation composition between samples. Reference-based profiling with Kraken2 identified key differences ratios reads assigned host, diet microbes. Some showed high abundance potential pathogens, including siadenoviruses, coccidian parasites antimicrobial-resistant bacterial Serratia fonticola . From metagenome assemblies, we obtained complete mitochondrial genomes from Isospora spp., while metagenome-assembled documented new prokaryotic species. Conclusions. Here, have shown utility uncovering microbial diversity beyond what possible 16S rRNA gene sequencing. These findings provide foundation for future hypothesis testing manipulation improve fitness populations. study also highlights role birds dissemination antimicrobial resistance.

Language: Английский

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The costs and benefits of a dynamic host microbiome

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

All species host a rich community of microbes. This microbiome is dynamic, and displays seasonal, daily, even hourly changes, but also needs to be resilient fulfill important roles for the host. In evolutionary ecology, focus dynamism has been on how it can facilitate adaptation novel environments. However, an hitherto largely overlooked issue that keep its in check, which costly leads trade-offs with investing other fitness-related traits. Investigating these natural vertebrate systems by collecting longitudinal data will lead deeper insight into mechanisms shape host-microbiome interactions.

Language: Английский

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Impacts of coprophagic foraging behaviour on the avian gut microbiome

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 99(2), P. 582 - 597

Published: Dec. 8, 2023

ABSTRACT Avian gut microbial communities are complex and play a fundamental role in regulating biological functions within an individual. Although it is well established that diet can influence the structure composition of microbiota, foraging behaviour may also critical, yet unexplored shaping composition, dynamics, adaptive potential avian microbiota. In this review, we examine coprophagic on establishment adaptability wild microbiomes. Coprophagy involves ingestion faeces, sourced from either self (autocoprophagy), conspecific animals (allocoprophagy), or heterospecific animals. Much like faecal transplant therapy, coprophagy ( i ) support microbiota young precocial species, ii directly indirectly provide nutritional energetic requirements, iii represent mechanism by which birds rapidly adapt to changing environments diets. However, certain contexts, pose risks birds, their microbiomes, through increased exposure chemical pollutants, pathogenic microbes, antibiotic‐resistant with deleterious effects host health performance. Given potentially far‐reaching consequences for dearth literature investigating these links, have developed predictive framework directing future research understand better when why engage distinct types coprophagy, behaviour. There need comprehensive investigation into microbiotas its performance throughout ontogeny across range environmental perturbations. Future behavioural studies combined metagenomic approaches needed insights function poorly understood

Language: Английский

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Manipulating a host-native microbial strain compensates for low microbial diversity by increasing weight gain in a wild bird population

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(43)

Published: Oct. 14, 2024

Empirical studies from laboratory systems and humans show that the gut microbiota is linked to host health. Similar evidence for effects on traits fitness in nature rare, not least because experimentally manipulating challenging. We isolated, characterized, cultured a bacterial strain, Lactobacillus kimchicus APC4233, directly wild bird (the great tit Parus major ) provided it as self-administered dietary supplement. assessed impact of treatment community, weight, tested whether affected previous result linking alpha diversity weight nestlings. The dramatically increased L. abundance diversity. This effect was strongest youngest birds, validating earlier findings pointing brief developmental window when are most sensitive. In time-lagged models, nestling higher birds suggesting may have probiotic potential. There also positive relationship between control but helped compensate low discuss why ecological context likely key predicting impacts microbiome. manipulation with native strain this population provides direct role ecology evolution natural populations.

Language: Английский

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Early-life factors shaping the gut microbiota of Common buzzard nestlings

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 26, 2024

Background: Exploring the dynamics of gut microbiome colonisation dur-ing early-life stages is important for understanding potential impact microbes on host development and fitness. Evidence from model organisms suggests a crucial phase when shifts in microbiota can lead to immune dysregulation reduced condition. However, our long-lived vertebrates, especially during early development, remains limited. We therefore used wild population common buzzard nestlings (Buteo buteo) investigate connections between colonisation, environmental factors. Results: targeted both bacterial eukaryotic using 16S 28S rRNA genes. sampled individuals developmental longitudinal design. Our data revealed that age significantly affected microbial diversity composition. Nest environment was notable predictor composition, with particularly communities differing habitats occupied by hosts. Nestling condition explained community while infection blood parasite Leucocytozoon correlated beta diversity. Conclusion: findings emphasise importance studying capture changes occurring ontogeny. They highlight role reflecting health nest developing nestling microbiome. Overall, this study contributes complex interplay communities,h ost factors, variables, sheds light mechanisms governing stages.

Language: Английский

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