scholarly journals Flexibility and resilience of Great tit (Parus major) gut microbiomes to changing diets

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasun H. Bodawatta ◽  
Inga Freiberga ◽  
Katerina Puzejova ◽  
Katerina Sam ◽  
Michael Poulsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
Partial Recovery ◽  
Dietary Changes ◽  
Recovery Potential ◽  
Diet Manipulation

Abstract Background: Gut microbial communities play important roles in nutrient management and can change in response to host diets. The extent of this flexibility and the concomitant resilience is largely unknown in wild animals. To begin untangling the dynamics of avian-gut microbiome symbiosis associated with diet changes, we exposed Parus major (Great tits) fed with a standard diet (seeds and mealworms) to either a mixed (seeds, mealworms and fruits), a seed, or a mealworm diet for four weeks, and examined the flexibility of gut microbiomes to these compositionally different diets. To assess microbiome resilience (recovery potential), all individuals were subsequently reversed to a standard diet for another four weeks. Cloacal microbiomes were collected weekly and characterised through sequencing the v4 region of the 16S rRNA gene using Illumina MiSeq. Results: Initial microbiomes changed significantly with the diet manipulation but the communities did not differ significantly between the three diet groups (mixed, seed and mealworm), despite multiple diet-specific changes of specific bacterial genera. Reverting birds to the standard diet led to only a partial recovery in gut community compositions. The majority of the bacterial taxa that increased significantly during diet manipulation decreased in relative abundances after reversion to the standard diet; however, bacterial taxa that decreased during the manipulation rarely increased after diet reversal.Conclusions: The gut microbial response and partial resilience to dietary changes support that gut bacterial communities of P. major play a role in accommodating dietary changes experienced by wild avian hosts. This may be a contributing factor to the relaxed association between microbiome composition and bird phylogeny. Our findings further imply that interpretations of wild bird gut microbiome analyses from single-time point sampling, especially for omnivorous species or species that have changing seasonal diets, should be done with caution. The partial community recovery implies that ecologically relevant diet changes (e.g., seasonality and migration) open up gut niches that may be filled by previously abundant microbes or replaced by different symbiont lineages, which has important implications for the integrity and specificity of long-term avian-symbiont associations.

scholarly journals Flexibility and resilience of great tit (Parus major) gut microbiomes to changing diets

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasun H. Bodawatta ◽  
Inga Freiberga ◽  
Katerina Puzejova ◽  
Katerina Sam ◽  
Michael Poulsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
Partial Recovery ◽  
Dietary Changes ◽  
Recovery Potential ◽  
Diet Manipulation

Abstract Background Gut microbial communities play important roles in nutrient management and can change in response to host diets. The extent of this flexibility and the concomitant resilience is largely unknown in wild animals. To untangle the dynamics of avian-gut microbiome symbiosis associated with diet changes, we exposed Parus major (Great tits) fed with a standard diet (seeds and mealworms) to either a mixed (seeds, mealworms and fruits), a seed, or a mealworm diet for 4 weeks, and examined the flexibility of gut microbiomes to these compositionally different diets. To assess microbiome resilience (recovery potential), all individuals were subsequently reversed to a standard diet for another 4 weeks. Cloacal microbiomes were collected weekly and characterised through sequencing the v4 region of the 16S rRNA gene using Illumina MiSeq. Results Initial microbiomes changed significantly with the diet manipulation, but the communities did not differ significantly between the three diet groups (mixed, seed and mealworm), despite multiple diet-specific changes in certain bacterial genera. Reverting birds to the standard diet led only to a partial recovery in gut community compositions. The majority of the bacterial taxa that increased significantly during diet manipulation decreased in relative abundance after reversion to the standard diet; however, bacterial taxa that decreased during the manipulation rarely increased after diet reversal Conclusions The gut microbial response and partial resilience to dietary changes support that gut bacterial communities of P. major play a role in accommodating dietary changes experienced by wild avian hosts. This may be a contributing factor to the relaxed association between microbiome composition and the bird phylogeny. Our findings further imply that interpretations of wild bird gut microbiome analyses from single-time point sampling, especially for omnivorous species or species with seasonally changing diets, should be done with caution. The partial community recovery implies that ecologically relevant diet changes (e.g., seasonality and migration) open up gut niches that may be filled by previously abundant microbes or replaced by different symbiont lineages, which has important implications for the integrity and specificity of long-term avian-symbiont associations.

scholarly journals Gut Microbiome in a Russian Cohort of Pre- and Post-Cholecystectomy Female Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 294
Author(s):  
Irina Grigor’eva ◽  
Tatiana Romanova ◽  
Natalia Naumova ◽  
Tatiana Alikina ◽  
Alexey Kuznetsov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Gallstone Disease ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Bacterial Phyla ◽  
Female Patients ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Before And After

The last decade saw extensive studies of the human gut microbiome and its relationship to specific diseases, including gallstone disease (GSD). The information about the gut microbiome in GSD-afflicted Russian patients is scarce, despite the increasing GSD incidence worldwide. Although the gut microbiota was described in some GSD cohorts, little is known regarding the gut microbiome before and after cholecystectomy (CCE). By using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, we inventoried the fecal bacteriobiome composition and structure in GSD-afflicted females, seeking to reveal associations with age, BMI and some blood biochemistry. Overall, 11 bacterial phyla were identified, containing 916 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The fecal bacteriobiome was dominated by Firmicutes (66% relative abundance), followed by Bacteroidetes (19%), Actinobacteria (8%) and Proteobacteria (4%) phyla. Most (97%) of the OTUs were minor or rare species with ≤1% relative abundance. Prevotella and Enterocossus were linked to blood bilirubin. Some taxa had differential pre- and post-CCE abundance, despite the very short time (1–3 days) elapsed after CCE. The detailed description of the bacteriobiome in pre-CCE female patients suggests bacterial foci for further research to elucidate the gut microbiota and GSD relationship and has potentially important biological and medical implications regarding gut bacteria involvement in the increased GSD incidence rate in females.

scholarly journals Fecal Microbiota Composition of a Mother-Infant Dyad in a Pig Model

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1015-1015
Author(s):  
Julie Jeon ◽  
Xi Fang ◽  
Jeferson Lourenco ◽  
Srujana Rayalam ◽  
Michael Rothrock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Fecal Microbiota ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Β Diversity ◽  
Α Diversity

Abstract Objectives Microbial programming in early life is associated with gut health and overall well-being in adulthood. The establishment of the nascent gut microbiome is substantially influenced by both maternal nutrition and the native maternal microbiome. Pig is recognized as a valuable model in gastrointestinal track research due to its remarkable similarity to humans in gastrointestinal anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, immunology, and pathology. This study examined the characteristics of the gut microflora in the sow-piglet dyad. Methods Fecal samples were collected from sows (n = 6) and piglets (n = 24) at weaning. Bacterial DNA was isolated from the feces and the V3-V4 region of 16 s rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced using the Illumina Miseq platform and analyzed by QIIME pipeline. Results Sows had a twice higher abundance of Firmicutes than piglets (84.28% vs 40.19%, P < 0.0001), although Firmicutes was the most abundant phyla in both sows and piglets. Instead, piglets had higher abundances of Bacteroidetes (36.41% vs 9.61%, P < 0.0001) and Proteobacteria (11.31% vs 0.87%, P = 0.005) than sows. Early colonization of Proteobacteria has been suggested to be important for development of neonatal immunity. Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio was higher in sows than in piglets (16.32 vs 1.36, P < 0.0001), which is consistent with previous reports in humans. The five most abundant families in sows were Clostridiaceae (30.43%), Turicibacteraceae (17.13%), Ruminococcaceae (11.29%), Lactobacillaceae (8.27%), and Lachnospiraceae (4.99%), while those in piglets were Bacteroidaceae (23.96%), Lachnospiraceae (9.13%), Clostridiaceae (7.52%), Ruminococcaceae (6.80%), and Enterobacteriaceae (6.63%). Observed OTUs in sows were higher (P = 0.02) than those in piglets, suggesting that piglets at early stage of life have lower fecal α-diversity. Moreover, β-diversity was very different between sows and piglets (P = 0.01). Conclusions Sows and piglets showed distinctive pattern of fecal microflora, and piglets had fewer species numbers at weaning compared to that of sows. This finding will provide a valuable information for future transgenerational studies on the gut microbiome and its consequences for health using a sow-piglet dyad. Funding Sources Georgia Experimental Agricultural Station, UGA Faculty research grant, and Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging at the PCOM.

scholarly journals 83 Lifelong dynamics of the swine gut microbiome: from birth to market

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 48-48
Author(s):  
Xiaofan Wang ◽  
Tsung Cheng Tsai ◽  
Charles V Maxwell ◽  
Jiangchao Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
16 S Rrna

Abstract Despite the recent advances in the swine gut microbiomes during different growth stages, a comprehensive longitudinal study of the lifelong dynamics of the swine gut microbiome is lacking. To fill this gap of knowledge, we selected seventeen piglets (PIC29*380) that were born on the same date from three sows. We collected a total of 274 rectal swabs during lactation (d 0, 11, 20), nursery (d 27, 33, 41, 50, 61), growing (d 76, 90, 104, 116), and finishing (d 130, 146, 159, and 174) stages. Samples were extracted using the Powersoil DNA isolation kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) and sequenced with an Illumina Miseq sequencer targeting the V4 region of the 16 S rRNA gene. Sequences were analyzed with the Deblur algorithm in the QIIME2 package. In general, alpha diversity including community richness (e.g., number of observed features, Chao1) and diversity (e.g., Shannon Index) showed an overall trend of increasing from lactation to the finishing stage (P < 0.01). Gradual and significant changes in community structures were also observed along the four growth stages (ANOSIM, R = 0.66; P < 0.01). Non-parametric permutational multivariate analysis of variance shows that main factors driving the lifelong community dynamics included age and diet. Seventeen phylum members were discovered in the lifelong pig gut microbiome with Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes being the most abundant phyla. LEfSe analysis revealed 63 bacterial features that are stage specific. By using a regressing tree based Random Forest model we identified five bacterial features that are associated with swine growth performance including features 26 (Turicibacteraceae Turicibacter), 27 (Clostridium butyricum), 18 (Clostridiaceae), 19 (Clostridium perfringens) and 4 (Clostridiaceae). Characterization of the lifelong dynamics of 17 healthy pigs from birth to market provides a foundation for gut microbiome studies focusing on swine development, health and growth performance.

scholarly journals PSII-24 Towards a better understanding of the gut microbiome functions in the swine production: extensive cultivation of the swine gut microbiome from different growth stages

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 242-243
Author(s):  
Xiaofan Wang ◽  
Xiaoyuan Wei ◽  
Feilong Deng ◽  
Tsungcheng Tsai ◽  
Charles V Maxwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Swine Production ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Different Growth Stages

Abstract Substantial progress has been made in the culture-omics of the human gut microbiota. However, little is known about the culture-omics of the swine gut microbiota, despite recent reports of their significant roles in swine health and production. To fill this knowledge gap in research, we tested 52 bacterial cultivation methods with different media and gas combinations. Fresh fecal samples (0.2g/sample) were collected from three pigs at the end of four growth stages: lactation, nursery, growing and finishing and were mixed with a stomacher in 20 mL saline. Aliquots of 50 uL microbial suspensions were then spread onto different media plates and incubated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions at 37C for up to 5 days. An additional aliquot of each sample was subjected to direct DNA extraction as a positive control. Bacterial colonies from each plate were collected and DNA was extracted from these samples using the Powersoil DNA isolation kit and sequenced with an Illumina Miseq sequencer targeting the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Sequences were analyzed with the Deblur algorithm in the QIIME2 package. A total of 378, 482, 565, and 555 bacterial features were observed from microbial solutions at the end of lactation, nursery, growing and finishing. Our culturing methods recovered 415, 675, 808, and 823 features correspondingly, representing 45.2%, 54.8%, 53.3%, and 56.4% of total features observed in microbial solutions. The top ten most easily cultured genus were Escherichia, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Megasphaera, Acidaminococcus, Bacillus, Mitsuokella, Enterococcus and Prevotella. Non-parametric permutational multivariate analysis of variance shows that the main factors driving the swine culture-omics included medium, age and oxygen condition. This study identifies the cultivable bacteria from fecal samples collected at different growth stages of pigs and provides a guidance to cultivate potential beneficial or pathogenic bacteria of interests and validate their functions in swine production.

scholarly journals Maternal group B Streptococcus and the infant gut microbiota

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Cassidy-Bushrow ◽  
A. Sitarik ◽  
A. M. Levin ◽  
S. V. Lynch ◽  
S. Havstad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Group B Streptococcus ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Adult Disease ◽  
Gut Colonization ◽  
Infant Gut Microbiome ◽  
Group B

Early patterns of gut colonization may predispose children to adult disease. Exposures in utero and during delivery are associated with the infant gut microbiome. Although ~35% of women carry group B strep (GBS; Streptococcus agalactiae) during pregnancy, it is unknown if GBS presence influences the infant gut microbiome. As part of a population-based, general risk birth cohort, stool specimens were collected from infant’s diapers at research visits conducted at ~1 and 6 months of age. Using the Illumina MiSeq (San Diego, CA) platform, the V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was sequenced. Infant gut bacterial community compositional differences by maternal GBS status were evaluated using permutational multivariate analysis of variance. Individual operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were tested using a zero-inflated negative binomial model. Data on maternal GBS and infant gut microbiota from either 1 (n=112) or 6-month-old stool (n=150) specimens was available on 262 maternal-child pairs. Eighty women (30.5%) were GBS+, of who 58 (72.5%) were given intrapartum antibiotics. After adjusting for maternal race, prenatal antifungal use and intrapartum antibiotics, maternal GBS status was statistically significantly associated with gut bacterial composition in the 6 month visit specimen (Canberra R2=0.008, P=0.008; Unweighted UniFrac R2=0.010, P=0.011). Individual OTU tests revealed that infants of GBS+ mothers were significantly enriched for specific members of the Clostridiaceae, Ruminococcoceae, and Enterococcaceae in the 6 month specimens compared with infants of GBS- mothers. Whether these taxonomic differences in infant gut microbiota at 6 months lead to differential predisposition for adult disease requires additional study.

scholarly journals Host Phylogeny Determines The Gut Microbial Landscape of Cephalopods

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woorim Kang ◽  
Pil Soo Kim ◽  
Euon Jung Tak ◽  
Hojun Sung ◽  
Na-Ri Shin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Host Phylogeny ◽  
Gut Microbial Community

Abstract BackgroundCompared to vertebrate gut microbiomes, little is known about the factors shaping the gut microbiomes in invertebrates, especially in non-insect invertebrates. Class Cephalopoda is the only group in the phylum Mollusca characterized by a closed circulatory system and a well-differentiated digestive system to process their carnivorous diet. Despite their key phylogenetic position for comparative studies as well as their ecological and commercial importances, analyses of the cephalopod gut microbiome are limited. In this study, we characterized the gut microbiota of six species of wild cephalopods by Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons.ResultsEach cephalopod gut consisted of a distinct consortium of microbes. Photobacterium and Mycoplasma were prevalent in all cephalopod hosts and were identified as core taxa. The gut microbial composition reflected host phylogeny. The importance of host phylogeny was supported by a detailed oligotype-level analysis of operational taxonomic units assigned to Photobacterium and Mycoplasma, although Photobacterium typically inhabited multiple hosts, whereas Mycoplasma tended to show host-specific colonization. Further, we showed that class Cephalopoda has a distinct gut microbial community from those of other molluscan groups. The gut microbiota of the phylum Mollusca was determined by host phylogeny, diet, and environment (aquatic vs. terrestrial).ConclusionWe provide the first comparative analysis of cephalopod and mollusk gut microbial communities. The gut microbial community of cephalopods is composed of the distinctive microbes and strongly associated with their phylogeny. The genera Photobacterium and Mycoplasma are core taxa in the cephalopod gut microbiota. Collectively, our findings of this study provide evidence that cephalopod and mollusk gut microbiomes reflect phylogeny, environment, and the diet of the host and these data can be suggested to establish future directions for invertebrate gut microbiome research.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Gut Microbiome in Wild Rocky Mountainsnails (Oreohelix strigosa)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridget Chalifour ◽  
Jingchun Li
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Initial Step ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Microbial Composition

Abstract BackgroundThe Rocky Mountainsnail (Oreohelix strigosa) is a terrestrial gastropod of ecological importance in the Rocky Mountains of western United States and Canada. Across the animal kingdom, including in gastropods, gut microbiomes have profound effects on the health of the host. Current knowledge regarding snail gut microbiomes, particularly throughout various life history stages, is limited. Understanding snail gut microbiome composition and dynamics can provide an initial step toward better conservation and management of this species. ResultsIn this study, we employed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to examine gut bacteria communities in wild-caught O. strigosa populations from the Front Range of Colorado. These included three treatment groups: (1) adult and (2) fetal snails, as well as (3) sub-populations of adult snails that were starved prior to ethanol fixation. Overall, O. strigosa harbors a high diversity of bacteria. We sequenced the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene on an Illumina MiSeq, and obtained 2,714,330 total reads. We identified a total of 7,056 unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to 36 phyla. The core gut microbiome of four unique OTUs accounts for roughly half of all sequencing reads returned and may aid the snails’ digestive processes. Significant differences in microbial composition, as well as richness, evenness, and Shannon Indices were found across the three treatment groups.ConclusionsComparisons of gut microbiomes in O. strigosa adult, fetal, and starved samples provide evidence that the host internal environments influence bacterial community compositions, and that bacteria may be transmitted vertically from parent to offspring. This work provides the first comprehensive report on the structure and membership of bacterial populations in the gastropod family Oreohelicidae and reveals similarities and differences across varying life history metrics. Strong differentiation between these life history metrics demonstrates the need for wider sampling for studies of dynamics of the snail gut microbiome.

scholarly journals Host Phylogeny Determines the Gut Microbial Landscape of Cephalopods

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woorim Kang ◽  
Pil Soo Kim ◽  
Euon Jung Tak ◽  
Hojun Sung ◽  
Na-Ri Shin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Host Phylogeny ◽  
Gut Microbial Community

Abstract Background: Compared to vertebrate gut microbiomes, little is known about the factors shaping the gut microbiomes in invertebrates, especially in non-insect invertebrates. Class Cephalopoda is the only group in the phylum Mollusca characterized by a closed circulatory system and a well-differentiated digestive system to process their carnivorous diet. Despite their key phylogenetic position for comparative studies as well as their ecological and commercial importances, analyses of the cephalopod gut microbiome are limited. In this study, we characterized the gut microbiota of six species of wild cephalopods by Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons.Results: Each cephalopod gut consisted of a distinct consortium of microbes. Photobacterium and Mycoplasma were prevalent in all cephalopod hosts and were identified as core taxa. The gut microbial composition reflected host phylogeny. The importance of host phylogeny was supported by a detailed oligotype-level analysis of operational taxonomic units assigned to Photobacterium and Mycoplasma, although Photobacterium typically inhabited multiple hosts, whereas Mycoplasma tended to show host-specific colonization. Further, we showed that class Cephalopoda has a distinct gut microbial community from those of other molluscan groups. The gut microbiota of the phylum Mollusca was determined by host phylogeny, diet, and environment (aquatic vs. terrestrial).Conclusion: We provide the first comparative analysis of cephalopod and mollusk gut microbial communities. The gut microbial community of cephalopods is composed of the distinctive microbes and strongly associated with their phylogeny. The genera Photobacterium and Mycoplasma are core taxa in the cephalopod gut microbiota. Collectively, our findings of this study provide evidence that cephalopod and mollusk gut microbiomes reflect phylogeny, environment, and the diet of the host and these data can be suggested to establish future directions for invertebrate gut microbiome research.

scholarly journals Changes in the Gut Microbiota of Urban Subjects during an Immersion in the Traditional Diet and Lifestyle of a Rainforest Village

mSphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly V. Ruggles ◽  
Jincheng Wang ◽  
Angelina Volkova ◽  
Monica Contreras ◽  
Oscar Noya-Alarcon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Oral Microbiota ◽  
Dietary Changes ◽  
Reference Collection ◽  
Diet And Lifestyle ◽  
Microbiota Diversity ◽  
Main Factor

ABSTRACT People living traditional lifestyles have higher gut microbiota diversity than urban subjects. We hypothesized that shifting lifestyles from an urban environment to a traditional rainforest village would lead to changes in the microbiota of visitors, which would become more similar to the microbiota of villagers. Here, we characterized at different time points the microbiota of 7 urban visitors (5 adults and 2 children) staying in a rainforest Amerindian village for 16 days and compared them with a reference collection of samples from age-matched local villagers. We performed a 16S rRNA gene survey of samples from multiple body sites (including fecal, oral, nasal, and skin samples) using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The main factor segregating the microbiotas of each body site was the human group (i.e., visitors versus villagers), with the visitor microbiota tending to have lower alpha diversity; the lowered alpha diversity was statistically significant in the microbiota of skin and in the children’s fecal and oral microbiota. During the rainforest period, all visitors experienced microbiota changes within their personal cloud of variation. For all body sites, the microbiota conformations in the visitor children better matched the microbiota conformations in villagers of the same age than did those of the visitor adults, which showed a lower “microbiota age” than the microbiota of the villagers. The results suggest higher stability in the adult microbiota, with the less resilient children’s microbiota responding more to dietary changes. IMPORTANCE Despite the limitations of a small study, our results evidence higher resilience of the gut microbiota with respect to dietary manipulation in adults than in children and urge further studies to understand the extent of microbiota plasticity in response to dietary changes and the mechanisms underlying microbiota resilience. These studies are relevant to the potential of future human pre- and probiotics in preventing or curing microbiota-associated diseases.

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