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Inflammation-Associated Microbiota Composition Across Domestic Animals
Seika Hashimoto-Hill1, Theresa Alenghat1
1Division of Immunobiology and Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States.
Frontiers in Genetics
|July 9, 2021
Summary
Domestic animals with intestinal inflammation show common gut microbiome dysbiosis, suggesting microbial imbalance is key. Canine models offer insights into human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Microbiome Research
- Comparative Pathology
Background:
- Intestinal inflammation, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affects both humans and domestic animals.
- The gut microbiota's symbiotic balance is crucial for intestinal health, and its imbalance (dysbiosis) is implicated in IBD.
- Domestic animals serve as valuable models for studying complex diseases due to shared genetic and environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize microbiome genomic data across various domestic species experiencing idiopathic intestinal inflammation.
- To identify common patterns of gut microbiome dysbiosis associated with intestinal inflammation in animals.
- To highlight the potential of domestic animals, particularly canines, as natural models for human IBD research.
Main Methods:
- Compilation and analysis of existing microbiome genomic data from domestic animals with intestinal inflammation.
- Focus on comparing microbial alterations across species like dogs, cats, horses, cows, and pigs.
- Review of studies incorporating functional profiling of the gut microbiota.
Main Results:
- A common occurrence of gut microbiome dysbiosis was identified in multiple domestic species with idiopathic intestinal inflammation.
- Pathogens or pathosymbionts were generally not detected as primary causes.
- The functional potential of the altered microbiota is suggested as a key etiologic factor in intestinal inflammation.
- Canine IBD research is most advanced, incorporating functional profiling and showing parallels with human IBD.
Conclusions:
- Comparative microbiome analyses across domestic species reveal shared microbial alterations in intestinal inflammation.
- Gut microbiome dysbiosis is a consistent finding in animals with idiopathic intestinal inflammation.
- Canine models are highly relevant for understanding human IBD, necessitating further metagenomic and host molecular analyses.
