Gut microbial gene expression in mother-fed and formula-fed piglets

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Neonatal nutrition
• Gut microbial ecology

Background:

• Dietary impacts on infant gut microbiota structure and function remain unclear.
• High-resolution molecular studies are essential to differentiate milk-fed and formula-fed infant gut communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gut microbial gene expression differences in neonatal piglets fed sow's milk versus artificial formula.
• To compare community-wide gene expression patterns and identify specific metabolic pathways affected by diet.

Main Methods:

• Whole transcriptome shotgun sequencing (RNA-seq) of cecal contents from mother-fed (MF) and formula-fed (FF) piglets.
• Analysis of microbial DNA and RNA using Roche 454 GS-FLX Titanium sequencing.
• Functional annotation of gene expression via MG-RAST and NCBI COG database.

Main Results:

• Microbial communities showed phylum-level similarity but genus-level dissimilarity (Prevotella in MF, Bacteroides in FF).
• Overall gene expression patterns were similar, with enrichment in carbohydrate/protein metabolism and stress response.
• Differential abundance of gene clusters related to amino acid metabolism and oxidative stress response observed between MF and FF groups.

Conclusions:

• A core microbial metatranscriptome exists in the distal intestine, contributing to gut function.
• While overall gene expression is similar, specific functional pathways differ between milk-fed and formula-fed piglets.
• Further research on gut microbial gene expression is crucial for understanding enteric microbiology in animals and humans.