scholarly journals Heliconius Butterflies Host Characteristic and Phylogenetically Structured Adult-Stage Microbiomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobin J. Hammer ◽  
Jacob C. Dickerson ◽  
W. Owen McMillan ◽  
Noah Fierer
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Adult Stage ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Phylogenetic Structure ◽  
Shotgun Metagenomics ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Passion Vine

ABSTRACT Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) are diverse and ecologically important, yet we know little about how they interact with microbes as adults. Due to metamorphosis, the form and function of their adult-stage microbiomes might be very different from those of microbiomes in the larval stage (caterpillars). We studied adult-stage microbiomes of Heliconius and closely related passion-vine butterflies (Heliconiini), which are an important model system in evolutionary biology. To characterize the structure and dynamics of heliconiine microbiomes, we used field collections of wild butterflies, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, quantitative PCR, and shotgun metagenomics. We found that Heliconius butterflies harbor simple and abundant bacterial communities that are moderately consistent among conspecific individuals and over time. Heliconiine microbiomes also exhibited a strong signal of the host phylogeny, with a major distinction between Heliconius and other butterflies. These patterns were largely driven by differing relative abundances of bacterial phylotypes shared among host species and genera, as opposed to the presence or absence of host-specific phylotypes. We suggest that the phylogenetic structure in heliconiine microbiomes arises from conserved host traits that differentially filter microbes from the environment. While the relative importance of different traits remains unclear, our data indicate that pollen feeding (unique to Heliconius) is not a primary driver. Using shotgun metagenomics, we also discovered trypanosomatids and microsporidia to be prevalent in butterfly guts, raising the possibility of antagonistic interactions between eukaryotic parasites and colocalized gut bacteria. Our discovery of characteristic and phylogenetically structured microbiomes provides a foundation for tests of adult-stage microbiome function, a poorly understood aspect of lepidopteran biology. IMPORTANCE Many insects host microbiomes with important ecological functions. However, the prevalence of this phenomenon is unclear because in many insect taxa, microbiomes have been studied in only part of the life cycle, if at all. A prominent example is butterflies and moths, in which the composition and functional role of adult-stage microbiomes are largely unknown. We comprehensively characterized microbiomes in adult passion-vine butterflies. Butterfly-associated bacterial communities are generally abundant in guts, consistent within populations, and composed of taxa widely shared among hosts. More closely related butterflies harbor more similar microbiomes, with the most dramatic shift in microbiome composition occurring in tandem with a suite of ecological and life history traits unique to the genus Heliconius. Butterflies are also frequently infected with previously undescribed eukaryotic parasites, which may interact with bacteria in important ways. These findings advance our understanding of butterfly biology and insect-microbe interactions generally.

scholarly journals Heliconius butterflies host characteristic and phylogenetically structured adult-stage microbiomes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobin J. Hammer ◽  
Jacob C. Dickerson ◽  
W. Owen McMillan ◽  
Noah Fierer
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Adult Stage ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Phylogenetic Structure ◽  
Shotgun Metagenomics ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Passion Vine

AbstractLepidoptera (butterflies and moths) are diverse and ecologically important, yet we know little about how they interact with microbes as adults. Due to metamorphosis, the form and function of their adult-stage microbiomes might be very different from microbiomes in the larval stage (caterpillars). We studied adult-stage microbiomes of Heliconius and closely related passion-vine butterflies (Heliconiini), which are an important model system in evolutionary biology. To characterize the structure and dynamics of heliconiine microbiomes, we used field collections of wild butterflies, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, quantitative PCR, and shotgun metagenomics. We found that Heliconius harbor simple and abundant bacterial communities that are moderately consistent among conspecific individuals and over time. Heliconiine microbiomes also exhibited a strong signal of host phylogeny, with a major distinction between Heliconius and other butterflies. These patterns were largely driven by differing relative abundances of bacterial phylotypes shared among host species and genera, as opposed to the presence or absence of host-specific phylotypes. We suggest that phylogenetic structure in heliconiine microbiomes arises from conserved host traits that differentially filter microbes from the environment. While the relative importance of different traits remains unclear, our data indicate that pollen-feeding (unique to Heliconius) is not a primary driver. Using shotgun metagenomics, we also discovered trypanosomatids and microsporidia to be prevalent in butterfly guts, raising the possibility of antagonistic interactions between eukaryotic parasites and co-localized gut bacteria. Our discovery of characteristic and phylogenetically structured microbiomes provides a foundation for tests of adult-stage microbiome function, a poorly understood aspect of lepidopteran biology.ImportanceMany insects host microbiomes with important ecological functions. However, the prevalence of this phenomenon is unclear, because in many insect taxa microbiomes have only been studied in part of the life cycle, if at all. A prominent example is the butterflies and moths, in which the composition and functional role of adult-stage microbiomes are largely unknown. We comprehensively characterized microbiomes in adult passion-vine butterflies. Butterfly-associated bacterial communities are generally abundant in guts, consistent within populations, and composed of taxa widely shared among hosts. More closely related butterflies harbor more similar microbiomes, with the most dramatic shift in microbiome composition occurring in tandem with a suite of ecological and life history traits unique to the genus Heliconius. Butterflies are also frequently infected with previously undescribed eukaryotic parasites, which may interact with bacteria in important ways. These findings advance our understanding of butterfly biology and of insect-microbe interactions generally.

Integration of culture-dependent and independent methods provides a more coherent picture of the pig gut microbiome

2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin J Fenske ◽  
Sudeep Ghimire ◽  
Linto Antony ◽  
Jane Christopher-Hennings ◽  
Joy Scaria
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Shotgun Metagenomics ◽  
Culture Techniques ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
Culture Independent ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
The Media ◽  
And Function ◽  
Culture Dependent

ABSTRACT Bacterial communities resident in the hindgut of pigs, have profound impacts on health and disease. Investigations into the pig microbiome have utilized either culture-dependent, or far more commonly, culture-independent techniques using next generation sequencing. We contend that a combination of both approaches generates a more coherent view of microbiome composition. In this study, we surveyed the microbiome of Tamworth breed and feral pigs through the integration high throughput culturing and shotgun metagenomics. A single culture medium was used for culturing. Selective screens were added to the media to increase culture diversity. In total, 46 distinct bacterial species were isolated from the Tamworth and feral samples. Selective screens successfully shifted the diversity of bacteria on agar plates. Tamworth pigs are highly dominated by Bacteroidetes primarily composed of the genus Prevotella whereas feral samples were more diverse with almost equal proportions of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. The combination of metagenomics and culture techniques facilitated a greater retrieval of annotated genes than either method alone. The single medium based pig microbiota library we report is a resource to better understand pig gut microbial ecology and function. It allows for assemblage of defined bacterial communities for studies in bioreactors or germfree animal models.

Abstract 18: Gut Microbiome Modifies the Protective Effects of a Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Against Diabetes Mellitus in US Hispanics/ Latinos: The Hispanic Community Health Study/ Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Wang ◽  
Qibin Qi ◽  
Zheng Wang ◽  
Mykhaylo Usyk ◽  
Daniela Sotres-Alvarez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Acid Fermentation ◽  
Microbiome Composition

Introduction: Little is known about whether the effect of a healthy diet on diabetes mellitus (DM) is modified by the gut microbiome in human. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that the gut microbiome modifies the inverse association between the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and risk of DM. Methods: This study included 543 DM cases, 805 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 394 with normal glucose regulation (NGR) in adults 23-83yrs old from the HCHS/SOL. Fecal samples were profiled using 16s rRNA gene sequencing. We applied QIIME 2 to cluster sequences into OTUs and assign taxonomies, and PICRUSt to predict metagenomic gene functions. Adherence to the MedDiet was evaluated by a MedDiet index using the average of two 24-hr dietary recalls. We applied MaAsLin2 to quantify associations between the MedDiet index and microbial features with adjustment for confounding factors listed in the caption of Fig. 1. Results: MedDiet was associated with phylogenetically diverse, rare, and abundant gut microbes (Fig. 1a). For example, a higher MedDiet index was associated with a higher relative abundance of Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii [FDR-adjusted p (q) =0.002], but a lower relative abundance of Collinsella aerofaciens ( q =0.009). We found that several microbial functions related to plant-derived polysaccharide degradation such as fructuronate reductase ( q =0.02), and short-chain fatty acid fermentation such as butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase ( q =0.002) were enriched in participants with higher MedDiet index. We found that the inverse association between MedDiet and risk of DM was more pronounced in participants with greater abundance of Prevotella copri , but weaker in participants whose gut microbial communities were dominated by Bacteroides ( P interaction =0.02 for IGT/DM vs NGR, Fig. 1b). Conclusions: Adherence to the MedDiet is associated with diverse gut microorganisms and microbial functions. The inverse association between MedDiet and risk of DM might be modified by gut microbiome composition. 1

scholarly journals Changes in the Intestinal Microbiome during a Multispecies Probiotic Intervention in Compensated Cirrhosis

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Horvath ◽  
Marija Durdevic ◽  
Bettina Leber ◽  
Katharina di Vora ◽  
Florian Rainer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Intestinal Microbiome ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Compensated Cirrhosis ◽  
Gut Barrier Function ◽  
Probiotic Treatment

Probiotics have been used in trials to therapeutically modulate the gut microbiome and have shown beneficial effects in cirrhosis. However, their effect on the microbiome of cirrhosis patients is not fully understood yet. Here, we tested the effects of a multispecies probiotic on microbiome composition in compensated cirrhosis. The gut microbiome composition of 58 patients with compensated cirrhosis from a randomized controlled trial who received a daily dose of multispecies probiotics or placebo for six months was analysed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Microbiome composition of patients who received probiotics was enriched with probiotic strains and the abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Syntrophococcus sucromutans, Bacteroides vulgatus, Alistipes shahii and a Prevotella species was increased in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group. Patients who had microbiome changes in response to probiotic treatment also showed a significant increase in neopterin and a significant decrease in faecal zonulin levels after intervention, which was not observed in placebo-treated patients or patients with unchanged microbiome compositions. In conclusion, multispecies probiotics may enrich the microbiome of compensated cirrhotic patients with probiotic bacteria during a six-month intervention and beneficially change the residential microbiome and gut barrier function.

scholarly journals Interplay between Fungal Infection and Bacterial Associates in the Wax Moth Galleria mellonella under Different Temperature Conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Vadim Yu Kryukov ◽  
Elena Kosman ◽  
Oksana Tomilova ◽  
Olga Polenogova ◽  
Ulyana Rotskaya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infection ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Cultivable Bacteria ◽  
Stress Related Genes ◽  
Rrna Gene Sequencing

Various insect bacterial associates are involved in pathogeneses caused by entomopathogenic fungi. The outcome of infection (fungal growth or decomposition) may depend on environmental factors such as temperature. The aim of this study was to analyze the bacterial communities and immune response of Galleria mellonella larvae injected with Cordyceps militaris and incubated at 15 °C and 25 °C. We examined changes in the bacterial CFUs, bacterial communities (Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA gene sequencing) and expression of immune, apoptosis, ROS and stress-related genes (qPCR) in larval tissues in response to fungal infection at the mentioned temperatures. Increased survival of larvae after C. militaris injection was observed at 25 °C, although more frequent episodes of spontaneous bacteriosis were observed at this temperature compared to 15 °C. We revealed an increase in the abundance of enterococci and enterobacteria in the midgut and hemolymph in response to infection at 25 °C, which was not observed at 15 °C. Antifungal peptide genes showed the highest expression at 25 °C, while antibacterial peptides and inhibitor of apoptosis genes were strongly expressed at 15 °C. Cultivable bacteria significantly suppressed the growth of C. militaris. We suggest that fungi such as C. militaris may need low temperatures to avoid competition with host bacterial associates.

scholarly journals Gut microbiome profiling of a rural and urban South African cohort reveals biomarkers of a population in lifestyle transition

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O. H. Oduaran ◽  
F. B. Tamburini ◽  
V. Sahibdeen ◽  
R. Brewster ◽  
F. X. Gómez-Olivé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Epidemiological Transition ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
Targeted Interventions

Abstract Background Comparisons of traditional hunter-gatherers and pre-agricultural communities in Africa with urban and suburban Western North American and European cohorts have clearly shown that diet, lifestyle and environment are associated with gut microbiome composition. Yet, little is known about the gut microbiome composition of most communities in the very diverse African continent. South Africa comprises a richly diverse ethnolinguistic population that is experiencing an ongoing epidemiological transition and concurrent spike in the prevalence of obesity, largely attributed to a shift towards more Westernized diets and increasingly inactive lifestyle practices. To characterize the microbiome of African adults living in more mainstream lifestyle settings and investigate associations between the microbiome and obesity, we conducted a pilot study, designed collaboratively with community leaders, in two South African cohorts representative of urban and transitioning rural populations. As the rate of overweight and obesity is particularly high in women, we collected single time-point stool samples from 170 HIV-negative women (51 at Soweto; 119 at Bushbuckridge), performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing on these samples and compared the data to concurrently collected anthropometric data. Results We found the overall gut microbiome of our cohorts to be reflective of their ongoing epidemiological transition. Specifically, we find that geographical location was more important for sample clustering than lean/obese status and observed a relatively higher abundance of the Melainabacteria, Vampirovibrio, a predatory bacterium, in Bushbuckridge. Also, Prevotella, despite its generally high prevalence in the cohorts, showed an association with obesity. In comparisons with benchmarked datasets representative of non-Western populations, relatively higher abundance values were observed in our dataset for Barnesiella (log2fold change (FC) = 4.5), Alistipes (log2FC = 3.9), Bacteroides (log2FC = 4.2), Parabacteroides (log2FC = 3.1) and Treponema (log2FC = 1.6), with the exception of Prevotella (log2FC = − 4.7). Conclusions Altogether, this work identifies putative microbial features associated with host health in a historically understudied community undergoing an epidemiological transition. Furthermore, we note the crucial role of community engagement to the success of a study in an African setting, the importance of more population-specific studies to inform targeted interventions as well as present a basic foundation for future research.

Effect of bamboo vinegar powder as an antibiotic alternative on the digesta bacteria communities of finishing pigs

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 732-743
Author(s):  
Huan Qu ◽  
Yanjie Huang ◽  
Yinghao Shi ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Shenglong Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Intestinal Microflora ◽  
Gene Sequencing ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Bacteria Communities

This study investigated the use for bamboo vinegar powder as an antibiotic alternative in the diet of growing–finishing pigs by examining their digestive bacterial communities. Forty-five Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire growing–finishing pigs were randomly allocated to five diet groups: 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, or 1.5% bamboo vinegar levels and antibiotics. After 37 days, the digesta in duodenum of four pigs from each treatment were analyzed for their bacterial community compositions using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The addition of 1.5% bamboo vinegar powder had an effect on the intestinal microflora most similar to that of antibiotics, indicating its potential to promote the growth and development of finishing pigs. We also found the 1.5% bamboo vinegar powder group to have an increased abundance of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes compared with the other bamboo vinegar powder groups, which may enhance the ability of the host to absorb food energy and store more body fat. Additionally, the effects of bamboo vinegar powder on promoting the abundances of Lactobacillus and Thalassospira and on inhibiting Streptococcus and Prevotella growth revealed it may play an important role in animal production. Moreover, functional predictions of microbes via PICRUSt indicated that feed supplemented with 1.5% bamboo vinegar powder could promote many vital metabolic pathways.

scholarly journals Loss of bacterial diversity in the sinuses is associated with lower smell discrimination scores

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi Biswas ◽  
Brett Wagner Mackenzie ◽  
Charlotte Ballauf ◽  
Julia Draf ◽  
Richard G. Douglas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Diversity ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Gene Sequencing ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Olfactory Loss ◽  
Olfactory Impairment ◽  
Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Normal Sense

Abstract Olfactory impairment affects ~ 20% of the population and has been linked to various serious disorders. Microbes in the nasal cavity play a key role in priming the physiology of the olfactory epithelium and maintaining a normal sense of smell by the host. The aim of this study was to explore the link between olfactory dysfunction and nasal bacterial communities. A total of 162 subjects were recruited for this study from a specialized olfactory dysfunction clinic and placed into one of three groups: anosmia, hyposmia or normosmia. Swabs from the nasal middle meatus were collected from each subject then processed for bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. No overall differences in bacterial diversity or composition were observed between the three cohorts in this study. However, the relative abundances of Corynebacterium spp. and Streptococcus spp. were significantly (p < 0.05) different in subjects with olfactory loss. Furthermore, subjects with deficiencies in discriminating between smells (based on discrimination scores) had a lower bacterial diversity (Simpson’s evenness p < 0.05). While these results are preliminary in nature, potential bacterial biomarkers for olfactory loss were identified. These findings need to be further validated and biologically tested in animal models.

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