Solid diet manipulates rumen epithelial microbiota and its interactions with host transcriptomic in young ruminants

Area of Science:

• Rumen microbiology and host-microbe interactions in ruminant nutrition.

Background:

• Rumen microbiota and tissue development are crucial for ruminant health.
• Most research focuses on rumen content bacteria, neglecting the epithelial microbiota.
• The relationship between epithelial microbiota, rumen content bacteria, and host gene expression is poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of early solid diet supplementation on rumen epithelial microbiota composition.
• To explore the correlation between rumen epithelial microbiota, rumen content bacteria, and host gene expression.
• To determine the role of solid diet, particularly neutral detergent fiber, in rumen development.

Main Methods:

• Collection of rumen digesta from goats under three different early-life feeding regimes.
• Next-generation sequencing to analyze epithelial microbiota composition.
• Host transcriptome analysis of rumen tissues.

Main Results:

• Distinct microbial structures and compositions were observed between rumen content and epithelial communities, influenced by solid diet supplementation.
• Solid diet, especially neutral detergent fiber, significantly drove rumen microbiota and epithelium gene expression in pre-weaning ruminants.
• Rumen epithelial microbiota showed a stronger association with the host transcriptome compared to rumen content bacteria.
• Host transcriptome changes correlated with host phenotypes, linking them to epithelial microbiota and diet.

Conclusions:

• Early solid diet supplementation is critical for improving rumen microbiota and tissue development in ruminants.
• The rumen epithelial microbiota plays a crucial role in proper rumen development.
• Solid diets enhance rumen development by influencing both rumen content and epithelial microbiota, with epithelial microbiota having a stronger link to host gene expression.