Fecal Microbiota Dynamics Reveal the Feasibility of Early Weaning of Yak Calves under Conventional Grazing System

Background: The gut microbiota plays an important role in the health and production of animals. However, little information is available on the dynamic variations and comparison of intestinal microbiota in post-weaning yak calves living on the QTP. Methods: We explored the fecal bacterial microbiota succession of yak calves at different months after early weaning (60 d) compared with cattle calves by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and functional composition prediction. Results: We found no significant difference in blood biochemical parameters related to glucose and lipid metabolism between yaks and calves in different months after weaning. The core fecal bacterial microbiota from both species of calves was dominated by Ruminococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Bacteroidaceae. The fecal microbial community has a great alteration within the time after weaning in both cattle and yak calves, but cattle showed a larger change. After five months, the microbiota achieves a stable and concentrated state. This is also similar to the functional profile. Conclusions: Based on the exploration of dynamic changes in the fecal microbiota at an early stage of life, our results illustrated that there were no negative effects of intestinal microbiota succession on yak calves when early weaning was employed.

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Analysis of the developing gut microbiota in young dairy calves—impact of colostrum microbiota and gut disturbances

Tropical Animal Health and Production ◽

10.1007/s11250-020-02535-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Bui Phan Thu Hang ◽

Ewa Wredle ◽

Johan Dicksved

Keyword(s):

Average Daily Gain ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Dairy Calves ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Calf Health ◽

Significant Difference

AbstractThe aim of this study was to characterize the colostrum and fecal microbiota in calves and to investigate whether fecal microbiota composition was related to colostrum microbiota or factors associated with calf health. Colostrum samples were collected in buckets after hand milking of 76 calving cows from 38 smallholder dairy farms. Fecal samples were taken directly from the rectum of 76 calves at birth and at 14 days age. The bacterial community structure in colostrum and feces was analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism for all samples, and the microbial composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing for a subset of the samples (8 colostrum, 40 fecal samples). There was a significant difference in fecal microbiota composition between day 0 and day 14 samples, but no associations between the microbiota and average daily gain, birth weight, or transfer of passive immunity. At 14 days of age, Faecalibacterium and Butyricicoccus were prevalent in higher relative abundances in the gut of healthy calves compared to calves with diarrhea that had been treated with antimicrobials. Colostrum showed great variation in composition of microbiota but no association to fecal microbiota. This study provides the first insights into the composition of colostrum and fecal microbiota of young dairy calves in southern Vietnam and can form the basis for future more detailed studies.

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The Growth of Leaf Lettuce and Bacterial Communities in a Closed Aquaponics System with Catfish

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7080222 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. 222

Author(s):

Kenji Yamane ◽

Yuuki Kimura ◽

Keita Takahashi ◽

Isamu Maeda ◽

Masayuki Iigo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Early Stage ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Small Scale ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Culture Solution ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Sustainable Cultivation ◽

Microbial Groups ◽

Production Period

Aquaponics is a circulating and sustainable system that combines aquaculture and hydroponics and forms a symbiotic relationship between fish, plants, and microorganisms. We hypothesized that feed alone could support plant growth, but the symbiosis with fish adds some beneficial effects on plant growth in aquaponics. In this study, we created three closed culture systems, namely, aquaponics, hydroponics without nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and aquaculture, and added the same amount of feed containing N and P to all the treatments in order to test the hypothesis. Accumulation of NO3− and PO43− was alleviated in aquaponics and hydroponics as a result of plant uptake. Lettuce plants grown in aquaponics grew vigorously until 2 weeks and contained a constant level of N in plants throughout the production period, whereas those in hydroponics grew slowly in the early stage and then vigorously after 2 weeks with a late increment of N concentration. These results suggest that catfish help with the faster decomposition of the feed, but, in hydroponics, feed can be slowly dissolved and decomposed owing to the absence of the fish. The bacterial community structures of the culture solution were investigated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. At the class level, Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria were the major microbial groups in the solutions. Aquaponics prevented the pollution of tank solution and maintained a higher water quality compared with hydroponics and aquaculture, suggesting that aquaponics is a more sustainable cultivation system even in a small-scale system.

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Evaluation of changes in intestinal microbiota in Crohn’s disease patients after anti-TNF alpha treatment

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-88823-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Laura Sanchis-Artero ◽

Juan Francisco Martínez-Blanch ◽

Sergio Manresa-Vera ◽

Ernesto Cortés-Castell ◽

Marina Valls-Gandia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crohn’S Disease ◽

Crohn's Disease ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Multicenter Observational Study ◽

Partial Restoration ◽

Before And After

AbstractIntestinal dysbiosis is key in the onset and development of Crohn’s disease (CD). We evaluated the microbiota changes in CD patients before and after a six-month anti-TNF treatment, comparing these changes with the microbiota of healthy subjects. This prospective multicenter observational study involved 27 CD patients initiating anti-TNF treatment and 16 healthy individuals. Inflammatory activity was determined at baseline, 3 and 6 months, classifying patients into responders and non-responders. Fecal microbiota was analyzed by massive genomic sequencing thought 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing before and after six months of anti-TNF treatment. The CD cohort showed a decrease in genera of the class Clostridia, short-chain fatty acid producers, and an increase in the phylum Proteobacteria (p < 0.01) versus the healthy cohort. After anti-TNF treatment, the phylum Proteobacteria also increased in non-responders versus responders (13/27) (p < 0.005), with the class Clostridia increasing. In addition, alpha diversity increased in responders versus non-responders (p < 0.01), tending towards eubiosis. An association was found (p < 0.001) in the F.prausnitzii/E.coli ratio between responders and non-responders. The F/E ratio was the most accurate biomarker of anti-TNF response (area under the curve 0.87). Thus, anti-TNF treatment allows partial restoration of intestinal microbiota in responders and the F.prausnitzii/E.coli ratio can provide a reliable indicator of response to anti-TNF in CD.

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Supplementation of a lacto-fermented rapeseed-seaweed blend promotes gut microbial- and gut immune-modulation in weaner piglets

Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology ◽

10.1186/s40104-021-00601-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yan Hui ◽

Paulina Tamez-Hidalgo ◽

Tomasz Cieplak ◽

Gizaw Dabessa Satessa ◽

Witold Kot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Modulation ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Saccharina Latissima ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Colon Mucosa ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Brown Macroalgae ◽

Blood Concentrations ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Background The direct use of medical zinc oxide in feed will be abandoned after 2022 in Europe, leaving an urgent need for substitutes to prevent post-weaning disorders. Results This study investigated the effect of using rapeseed-seaweed blend (rapeseed meal added two brown macroalgae species Ascophylum nodosum and Saccharina latissima) fermented by lactobacilli (FRS) as feed ingredients in piglet weaning. From d 28 of life to d 85, the piglets were fed one of three different feeding regimens (n = 230 each) with inclusion of 0%, 2.5% and 5% FRS. In this period, no significant difference of piglet performance was found among the three groups. From a subset of piglets (n = 10 from each treatment), blood samples for hematology, biochemistry and immunoglobulin analysis, colon digesta for microbiome analysis, and jejunum and colon tissues for histopathological analyses were collected. The piglets fed with 2.5% FRS manifested alleviated intraepithelial and stromal lymphocytes infiltration in the gut, enhanced colon mucosa barrier relative to the 0% FRS group. The colon microbiota composition was determined using V3 and V1-V8 region 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing by Illumina NextSeq and Oxford Nanopore MinION, respectively. The two amplicon sequencing strategies showed high consistency between the detected bacteria. Both sequencing strategies indicated that inclusion of FRS reshaped the colon microbiome of weaned piglets with increased Shannon diversity. Prevotella stercorea was verified by both methods to be more abundant in the piglets supplied with FRS feed, and its abundance was positively correlated with colonic mucosa thickness but negatively correlated with blood concentrations of leucocytes and IgG. Conclusions FRS supplementation relieved the gut lymphocyte infiltration of the weaned piglets, improved the colon mucosa barrier with altered microbiota composition. Increasing the dietary inclusion of FRS from 2.5% to 5% did not lead to further improvements.

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Comparative Analysis of Fecal Microbiota Composition Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis Patients

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes10100748 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 748 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jin-Young Lee ◽

Mohamed Mannaa ◽

Yunkyung Kim ◽

Jehun Kim ◽

Geun-Tae Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Stool Samples ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

The aim of this study was to investigate differences between the gut microbiota composition in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and those with osteoarthritis (OA). Stool samples from nine RA patients and nine OA patients were collected, and DNA was extracted. The gut microbiome was assessed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The structures and differences in the gut microbiome between RA and OA were analyzed. The analysis of diversity revealed no differences in the complexity of samples. The RA group had a lower Bacteroidetes: Firmicutes ratio than did the OA group. Lactobacilli and Prevotella, particularly Prevotella copri, were more abundant in the RA than in the OA group, although these differences were not statistically significant. The relative abundance of Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium was lower in the RA group. At the species level, the abundance of certain bacterial species was significantly lower in the RA group, such as Fusicatenibacter saccharivorans, Dialister invisus, Clostridium leptum, Ruthenibacterium lactatiformans, Anaerotruncus colihominis, Bacteroides faecichinchillae, Harryflintia acetispora, Bacteroides acidifaciens, and Christensenella minuta. The microbial properties of the gut differed between RA and OA patients, and the RA dysbiosis revealed results similar to those of other autoimmune diseases, suggesting that a specific gut microbiota pattern is related to autoimmunity.

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Experimentally Induced Metamorphosis in Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) Under Constant Diet Restructures Microbiota Accompanied by Reduced Limb Regenerative Capacity

10.1101/277285 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Turan Demircan ◽

Guvanch Ovezmyradov ◽

Berna Yıldırım ◽

İlknur Keskin ◽

Ayse Elif İlhan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Model Organism ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Ambystoma Mexicanum ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Regenerative Capacity ◽

Experimental Procedure ◽

Bacterial Microbiota ◽

Major Transition ◽

Salamander Species ◽

Experimentally Induced

AbstractAxolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a critically endangered salamander species and a model organism for regenerative and developmental biology. Despite life-long neoteny in nature and in captive-bred colonies, metamorphosis of these animals can be experimentally induced by administering Thyroid hormones (THs). However, biological consequences of this experimental procedure, such as host microbiota response and implications for regenerative capacity, remain largely unknown. Here, we systematically compared host bacterial microbiota associated with skin, stomach, gut tissues and fecal samples based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, along with limb regenerative capacity, between neotenic and metamorphic Axolotls. Our results show that distinct bacterial communities inhabit individual organs of Axolotl and undergo substantial restructuring through metamorphosis. Drastic restructuring was observed for skin microbiota, highlighted by a major transition from Firmicutes-enriched to Proteobacteria-enriched relative abundance and precipitously decreased diversity. Remarkably, shifts in microbiota was accompanied by a steep reduction in limb regenerative capacity. Fecal microbiota of neotenic and metamorphic Axolotl shared relatively higher similarity, suggesting that diet continues to shape microbiota despite fundamental transformations in the host digestive organs. The results provide novel insights into microbiological and regenerative aspects of Axolotl metamorphosis and will establish a baseline for future in-depth studies.

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Higher fiber complementary food alters Fecal microbiota composition and normalizes stool form in Malawian children: A randomized trial

African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development ◽

10.18697/ajfand.99.20200 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (04) ◽

pp. 17854-17875

Author(s):

Edda Lungu ◽

◽

J Auger ◽

A Piano ◽

WJ Dahl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dietary Intake ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Stool Frequency ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Linear Discriminant ◽

Stool Form

Dietary fiber favorably modulates gut microbiota and may be protective against diarrhea in sub-Saharan Africa where rates in infants and young children are high. Soybean hull is high in fiber and accessible in rural Africa; however, its use in complementary feeding has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine the acceptability and feasibility of a soybean, soy hull fiber, and maize (SFM) blend food; the primary outcome was compliance to the feeding protocol. Secondary outcomes were stool form and frequency, fecal microbiota composition, growth and dietary intake. In a parallel, single-blind study, children 6-36 months of age from the Lilongwe district of Malawi were randomized to receive daily SFM (n=69) or maize only(n=10) porridge(phala) for 6 months. Anthropometrics were measured monthly, and compliance, stool frequency,and stool form, weekly. At baseline, 3-month,and 6-month (study end) time points, dietary intake (24-h recall) was assessed,and fecal samples were collected. Fecal DNA was analyzed by Real-Time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for microbes of interest and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Mothers accessed the acceptability and feasibility of the study foods at study end. Mothers reported excellent compliance to feeding the SFM porridge, rated it more acceptable than maize,and noted improved appetite, weight, and stool consistency of their children. Stool frequency at baseline (2±1 stools/d) was unchanged with intervention; however, there were significantly fewer diarrhea-type stools reported during study months 4-6 vs.1-3 for the SFM group, whereas no improvement was seen for the maize group. At study end, the fecal abundance ofAkkermansia muciniphila was enriched in children receiving the SFM, compared to maize (p<0.05), and a trend for increased Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (p=0.07) was seen. A comparison of fecal microbiota composition using linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe)showed notable differences in numerous taxa in the SFM group compared to baseline, whereas the maize comparator exhibited fewer changes. Fiber intake was higher for the SFMgroup, compared to maize at 6 months (13.7±3.8 vs. 8.4±4.5 g/day, p<0.01). Weight-for-height and BMI-for-age Z-scores were significantly higher for the SFM group. In young Malawian children, feeding a blend of soybean, soy hulls and maize reduced diarrhea-type stools and increased the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, a bacterial species involved in maintaining intestinal health, and thus may provide a feasible means of improving wellness in children in resource-poor settings through the modulation of microbiota composition.

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Effects of Giardia lamblia Colonization and Fenbendazole Treatment on Canine Fecal Microbiota

Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science ◽

10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000113 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Naomi N Lee ◽

Willie A Bidot ◽

Aaron C Ericsson ◽

Craig L Franklin

Keyword(s):

Giardia Lamblia ◽

16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Limited Information ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Minimal Impact ◽

Clinically Normal ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Rrna Gene Sequencing

The gut microbiota (GM) is the sum of hundreds of distinct microbial species that can equal or outnumber their host’ssomatic cells. The GM influences a multitude of physiologic and immunologic processes in the host, and changes in the GM have been shown to alter the phenotypes of animal models. Previous studies using rodents have also shown that the composition of the GM is affected by many factors, including diet, husbandry, housing, and the genetic background of the animals. However, limited information exists about factors that may modulate GM in other laboratory species, such as dogs. We sought to eliminate sporadic Giardia colonization of dogs using fenbendazole (FBZ), an antiprotozoal widely used in biomedical research dog colonies. Concerns that FBZ could have inadvertent effects on the canine GM led us to assess GM over the course of treatment. FBZ (50 mg/kg) was given orally to all dogs in 3 different facilities (n = 19 to 25) for 10 consecutive days. Fecal samples were obtained 2 d before the initiation of treatment, on the last day of treatment, and 2 wk after the completion of treatment. Targeted 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze fecal microbiota. All dogs were clinically normal throughout the sample collection period. Statistical analyses of data showed significant differences between dogs housed in the 3 different facilities, further emphasizing the effect of housing and husbandry factors on the GM. However,negligible differences were seen between time points, indicating that FBZ did not significantly alter the canine GM. Comparison of the GM of Giardia lamblia positive and negative dogs revealed no significant difference between the 2 groups. These findings suggest that FBZ can be used therapeutically in dogs with minimal impact on the GM. Furthermore, the presence ofG. lamblia in clinically normal animals may not be sufficient to influence the normal canine microbiota.

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Trikafta therapy alters the CF lung mucus metabolome reshaping microbiome niche space

10.1101/2021.06.02.21257731 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lauren Sosinski ◽

Christian Martin-Hernandez ◽

Kerri A Neugebauer ◽

Lydia-Ann J Ghuneim ◽

Douglas V Guzior ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Effects ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Kynurenine Pathway ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Structural Modifications ◽

Lung Microbiome ◽

Fda Approval ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Log Ratio

Novel small molecule therapies for cystic fibrosis (CF) are showing promising efficacy and becoming more widely available since recent FDA approval. The newest of these is a triple therapy of Elexacaftor-Tezacaftor-Ivacaftor (ETI). Little is known about how these drugs will affect polymicrobial lung infections, which are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among people with CF (pwCF). We analyzed the sputum microbiome and metabolome from pwCF (n=24) before and after TKT therapy using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. The lung microbiome diversity, particularly its evenness, was increased (p = 0.044) and the microbiome profiles were different between individuals before and after therapy (PERMANOVA F=1.92, p=0.044). Despite these changes, the microbiomes were more similar within an individual than across the sampled population. There were no specific microbial taxa that were different in abundance before and after therapy, but collectively, the log-ratio of anaerobes to pathogens significantly decreased. The sputum metabolome also showed changes due to TKT. Beta-diversity increased after therapy (PERMANOVA F=4.22, p=0.022) and was characterized by greater variation across subjects while on treatment. This significant difference in the metabolome was driven by a decrease in peptides, amino acids, and metabolites from the kynurenine pathway. Metabolism of the three small molecules that make up TKT was extensive, including previously uncharacterized structural modifications. This study shows that TKT therapy affects both the microbiome and metabolome of airway mucus. This effect was stronger on sputum biochemistry, which may reflect changing niche spaces for microbial residency in lung mucus as the drug effects take hold, which then leads to changing microbiology.

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Antibiotic-Induced Perturbations Are Manifested in the Dominant Intestinal Bacterial Phyla of Atlantic Salmon

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms7080233 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. 233 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Shruti Gupta ◽

Jorge Fernandes ◽

Viswanath Kiron

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Salmon ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Study Groups ◽

Oxolinic Acid ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Farmed Fish ◽

Bacterial Phyla ◽

Microbial Profile ◽

The Impact

The intestinal microbiota of certain farmed fish are often exposed to antimicrobial substances, such as antibiotics, that are used to prevent and treat bacterial diseases. Antibiotics that kill or inhibit the growth of harmful microbes can rapidly alter intestinal microbial diversity and composition, with potential effects on the host health. In this study, we have elucidated the impact of two antibiotics, florfenicol and oxolinic acid, by employing a high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing technique on the distal and mid intestinal microbial communities of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). For this, Atlantic salmon were offered diets with or without antibiotics. We then investigated the bacterial communities in the intestinal mucus of the fish. Our results showed that antibiotic exposure shifts the intestinal microbial profile differentially. In addition, the bacterial compositions of the control and antibiotic-fed groups were significantly different. Antibiotic feeding altered the composition and abundance of the dominant bacterial phyla, namely Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Spirochaetes, Bacteroidetes, Tenericutes, and Thermotogae. The bacterial association network analysis also indicated the differential pattern of co-occurrence of bacteria in the three study groups. The results regarding the differences in the structure and association of the intestinal microbiota of Atlantic salmon after florfenicol and oxolinic acid feeding can be employed to attenuate the adverse effects of antibiotic feeding on fish.

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