Anaerobic fungi in the tortoise alimentary tract illuminate early stages of host-fungal symbiosis and Neocallimastigomycota evolution

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: March 28, 2024

Abstract Anaerobic gut fungi (AGF, Neocallimastigomycota ) reside in the alimentary tract of herbivores. While their presence mammals is well documented, evidence for occurrence non-mammalian hosts currently sparse. Culture-independent surveys AGF tortoises identified a unique community, with three novel deep-branching genera representing >90% sequences most samples. Representatives all were successfully isolated under strict anaerobic conditions. Transcriptomics-enabled phylogenomic and molecular dating analyses indicated an ancient, position tree these genera, evolutionary divergence time estimate 104-112 million years ago (Mya). Such estimates push establishment animal- symbiosis from late to early Cretaceous. Further, tortoise-associated isolates (T-AGF) exhibited limited capacity plant polysaccharides metabolism lacked genes encoding several carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) families. Finally, we demonstrate that observed curtailed degradation capacities reduced CAZyme repertoire driven by paucity horizontal gene transfer (HGT) T-AGF genomes, compared mammalian counterparts. This was reflected altered cellulosomal production T-AGF. Our findings provide insights into phylogenetic diversity, ecological distribution, history, evolution fungal-host nutritional symbiosis, dynamics acquisition .

Language: Английский

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Microbial community composition in the dung of five sympatric European herbivore species

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(3)

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract The dung microbiome is a complex system that highly influenced by species and diet. This study characterized the bacterial fungal communities of five herbivore inhabiting National Park Zuid‐Kennemerland, Netherlands. selected were rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus L.), cow Bos taurus horse Equus ferus caballus fallow deer Dama dama European bison Bison bonasus L.). We explored effects distinct digestive physiology (ruminants vs. non‐ruminants) diverse dietary preferences on microbial community composition dung. Firmicutes Bacteroidetes dominant phyla in all species, Ascomycota was predominant phylum. Verrucomicrobiota Mucoromycota more present Proteobacteria abundant than three ruminant types. There few significant differences structure among alpha beta diversity significantly differed between ruminants non‐ruminants, especially communities. Based MetaCyc pathways, we found primary functions bacteria focused biosynthesis, various super degradation, with non‐ruminant FUNGuild analysis showed had saprotrophic fungi, while fungi symbiotrophic properties, bison, cow, somewhere between. also correlation nutrient substrate Understanding these can enrich database mammalian gut microbiomes for studying mechanisms variation preparing exploring new perspective to impact herbivores ecosystems through deposition.

Language: Английский

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Dietary supplementation of new-born foals with free nucleotides positively affects neonatal diarrhoea management

Irish Veterinary Journal, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 78(1)

Published: March 1, 2025

Abstract Foals commonly experience diarrhoea in the first weeks of life. Although this condition is rarely life-threatening, it can have significant health consequences. This study investigated whether new-born foals benefit from a dietary supplement nucleotides, as already demonstrated other species. Dietary nucleotides positive effects on rapidly proliferating tissues and are considered “semi-essential nutrients” since cells only limited capacity to synthesize these compounds. The aim was investigate providing with nucleotide supplementation, form an oral paste, able affect incidence, systemic immunity, intestinal microbiota volatile fatty acid production. Thirty standardbred foals, 3 different premises within same area, were equally distributed between two groups: one group received paste containing (NUCL group), while placebo (CTRL group). Faecal blood samples collected days 1 35 after birth. No statistical differences cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-12) or faecal calprotectin levels found groups, suggesting that level supplementation used did not immune system calprotectin. However, NUCL showed lower relative frequency number (6.12% vs 13.33%; p < 0.001) greater weight gain compared CTRL (50.3 ± 5.65 kg 44.0 8.65 kg; 0.05). Total acids, branched acetic acid, propionic butyric succinic iso-butyric acids all higher group. outcome may explain earlier establishment gut closer typical adult horse, characterised by predominant fibrolytic populations. Volatile production (especially acid) has also been shown correlate well-being supporting use supplements for improved foals. we noted no clear microbial communities appear clinical outcome, reducing increasing acids.

Language: Английский

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Research Progress on Influencing Factors of Gastrointestinal Microbial Diversity in Equine

Veterinary Medicine and Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 11(3)

Published: March 27, 2025

Microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract play a crucial role nutrient digestion, health and so forth equines. As research attention on gut microbes has increased, several studies have investigated composition of microbial flora This article reviews effects breed, age, intestinal site, nutritional management diseases microbiota horses donkeys, thus offering references for improving microecological environment these animals preventing controlling disease occurrence them.

Language: Английский

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Application of Artificial Gastrointestinal Tract Models in Veterinary Medicine

Animals, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(9), P. 1222 - 1222

Published: April 26, 2025

Artificial gastrointestinal tract models have become essential tools in veterinary medicine, providing alternatives to vivo studies, which are labor-intensive, costly, and under certain circumstances even ethically challenging. These vitro facilitate the study of digestion, enable disease host–pathogen interaction modeling, allow for investigation nutrient absorption, microbiota, pharmacokinetics. Considering One Health concept, application systems investigations animals can clearly reflect human health, thus, it is pointing relevance adaptation already existing development new meet needs animal farming practices. This review explores compares various types models, including static dynamic systems, their applications across different species. Specific technical methodological considerations discussed core animal-developed -tested artificial integration with common ‘omics’ techniques. Dynamic such as RUSITEC PolyFermS, more accurately simulate processes, peristalsis, enzymatic activity, microbial fermentation. The studies employing approaches been conducted understanding analysis comprehensive discussion results.

Language: Английский

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Longitudinal effects of oral administration of antimicrobial drugs on fecal microbiota of horses

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37(6), P. 2562 - 2572

Published: Sept. 8, 2023

Antimicrobial drug-associated diarrhea (AAD) is the most common adverse effect in horses receiving antimicrobials. Little information on how oral administration of antimicrobials alters intestinal microbiota available.Investigate changes fecal response to antimicrobials.Twenty healthy horses.Prospective, longitudinal study. Horses were randomly assigned 4 groups comprising each: group 1 (metronidazole); 2 (erythromycin); 3 (doxycycline); (sulfadiazine/trimethoprim, SMZ-TMP); and 5 (control). Antimicrobials administered for days. Fecal samples obtained before (day 0) at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 30 days study period. was characterized by high throughput sequencing V4 region 16S rRNA.Horses remained throughout Richness diversity doxycycline, erythromycin, metronidazole, but not SMZ-TMP groups, significantly lower (P < .05) multiple time points after compared with from day 0. Main observed during antimicrobial 2-5; weighted unweighted UniFrac PERMANOVA P .05). Administration doxycycline and, a lesser extent, metronidazole produced pronounced alteration 0 decreasing abundance Treponema, Fibrobacter, Lachnospiraceae increasing Fusobacterium Escherichia-Shigella.Oral resembling dysbiosis, potentially resulting inflammation predisposition diarrhea.

Language: Английский

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Effects of Concentrate Feeding Sequence on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, VFA Production, and Fecal Microbiota of Weaned Donkeys

Animals, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(18), P. 2893 - 2893

Published: Sept. 12, 2023

In this study, effects on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, volatile fatty acids (VFA) production, and fecal microbiota of weaned donkeys were observed using different concentrate feeding sequences. Fifteen healthy 6-month-old male with a body weight 117.13 ± 10.60 kg randomly divided into three treatment groups, including group C1 (roughage-then-concentrate), C2 (concentrate-then-roughage), C3 (total mixed ration, TMR). The experiment lasted 35 d. We measured digestion by acid-insoluble ash method analyzed high-throughput sequencing 16s rRNA genes in V3-V4 region. results show that obtained best digestibility crude protein (CP) extract (EE) was significantly higher than (p < 0.05). Acetic acid, isobutyric valeric isovaleric caproic acid notably among all groups addition, we Firmicutes Bacteroidetes dominant microbes each group, At genus level, genera Treponema, Rikenellaceae-RC9-gut-group, Unidentified-F082, Bacteroidales-RF16-group prediction function PICRUSt indicated sequences had minimal impact microbiota, particularly high-abundance pathway. summary, sequence changed composition microbe donkeys.

Language: Английский

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Effects of lysine and threonine on milk yield, amino acid metabolism, and fecal microbiota of Yili lactating mares

Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: July 3, 2024

The nutritional benefits of mare milk are attracting increasing consumer interest. Limited availability due to low yield poses a challenge for widespread adoption. Although lysine and threonine often used enhance protein synthesis muscle mass in horses, their impact on nutrient composition remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects supplementation 24 healthy Yili mares, mares at day 30 lactation, over 120-day period. were divided into control three experimental groups (six each) under pure grazing conditions. group received no amino acid supplementation, while varying daily doses threonine: Group I (40 g + 20 threonine), II (60 40 III (80 60 threonine). Supplementation notably increased yield, Groups showed higher fat percentages, all exhibited improved percentages. Additionally, blood levels total protein, albumin, triglycerides, glucose reduced. Detailed analyses from peak lactation (day 60) included targeted metabolomics microbial sequencing milk, blood, fecal samples. Amino assessed content serum, 16S rRNA gene evaluated rectal composition. results indicated that significantly creatine lysine, threonine, glutamine, alanine milk. Microbial analysis revealed prevalence certain bacterial families genera, including Prevotellaceae, p_251_o5, Rikenellaceae family level, unclassified_p_ 251 _o5, Prevotellaceae_UCG _001, _RC9_ gut_group genus level. Multi-omics positive correlations between specific genera acids For instance, Prevotellaceae_UCG_ 003, unclassified Bacteroidetes_ BS11 _gut_group , Corynebacterium positively correlated with Prevotellaceae was Unclassified_Bacteroidales_BS11_gut_group glutamine. In summary, lactating enhanced production quality. It is recommended herders, veterinarians, technicians consider diet mares. optimal conditions horses determined be per day. Future research should explore molecular mechanisms by which these influence lipid mammary epithelial cells.

Language: Английский

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Are cows pickier than goats? Linnaeus’s innovative large-scale feeding experiment

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 143(1)

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Abstract In 1749, Linnaeus published Pan Svecicus, a thesis that was defended by his student Nils Hesselgren. The describes food preference trials in cows, goats, sheep, horses, and pigs, includes 2325 tests with 643 plant species. data had surprisingly little bearing on the text thesis, even though experiments quickly became internationally known, were merely repeated, rather than discussed. We have digitized linked species names to modern nomenclature present first analysis discussion of results. Pigs most selective (eating 32% 204 tested all animals), followed horses (59%), cows (66%), sheep (82%), goats (85%). ruminants (especially sheep) high overlap choice, pigs deviated (despite fact are more closely related horses). Among orders, Fabales Poales generally preferred, while Lamiales Ranunculales avoided, especially horses. Cows also keen avoid toxic All animals showed for today considered nutritious. now make available, further analyses ecology, history science, other disciplines.

Language: Английский

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Reduced functional fungal communities in two species of sloths (Bradypus variegatusandCholoepus hoffmanni) suggest a link to slow digestion

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 20, 2024

Abstract Sloths, with their ruminant-like digestive systems, possess the slowest digestion among mammals due to low metabolic rate, minimal food intake, and extremely low-energy diet. However, no comprehensive studies have characterized sloth’s gut microbiota, including fungi, role in digestion. This study hypothesized that effective plant fiber-degrading fungi (e.g., Neocallimastigomycota) would be scarce gut. The aim was describe microbiota of three-toed ( Bradypus variegatus ) two-toed Choloepus hoffmanni sloths understand link slow Microbial composition functionality were analyzed using shotgun metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, fungal metabarcoding (ITS 1 2 nrDNA), cellulose degradation analysis. communities dominated by bacteria (92–97%), followed viruses (1–7%). Fungi accounted for only 0.06–0.5% metagenomic reads 0.1% transcripts. Functional analysis revealed CAZy abundance (1.7–1.9% metagenomes, 0.2% metatranscriptomes), CAZys or glycoside hydrolases detected. Neocallimastigomycota had negligible data absent metatranscriptomic ITS data. showed overall lower presence compared . Lastly, analyses ∼5–35% intake digested. highlights unique microbial ecosystem sloths’ guts, showing anaerobic limited CAZys, aligning thus enhancing our understanding efficiency adaptations.

Language: Английский

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