Meta-analysis To Define a Core Microbiota in the Swine Gut

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Animal Science
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• The swine gut microbiota is crucial for pig health and is influenced by various factors.
• High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene is commonly used to study swine gut microbiota composition.
• Understanding factors shaping the microbiota is essential for consistent research findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis of 20 public swine gut microbiota datasets.
• To identify key factors influencing swine gut microbiota composition and structure.
• To determine the existence of a core swine gut microbiota across diverse studies.

Main Methods:

• Meta-analysis of 20 public high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequence datasets.
• Statistical analysis to identify significant factors affecting microbiota composition.
• Comparison of bacterial taxa across different studies and sample types.

Main Results:

• The "study" variable and gastrointestinal tract section sampled were the most significant factors influencing microbiota composition (P=0.0001).
• Technical variation, particularly the 16S rRNA gene hypervariable region, also significantly affected microbiota structure (P=0.0001).
• A core microbiota, including genera like Prevotella, Clostridium, and Lactobacillus, was identified in over 90% of samples, irrespective of study variables.

Conclusions:

• Study design and sample location are primary drivers of swine gut microbiota variation.
• Technical variability can obscure biological insights in meta-analyses.
• A conserved core microbiota exists in swine, providing a foundation for future research on health manipulation.