Gut microbiome and telomere length in gull hatchlings

Area of Science:

• Animal Ecology
• Microbiome Research
• Genomics

Background:

• Early-life gut microbiome acquisition impacts newborn health and genomic integrity.
• The relationship between early microbiome and telomere dynamics remains understudied.
• Maternal glucocorticoids can influence microbiome composition, potentially affecting offspring development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interplay between gut microbiome and stress hormones (corticosterone) on telomere length in yellow-legged gull hatchlings.
• To determine if maternal corticosterone levels modulate the microbiome-telomere relationship.
• To assess the implications of early microbiome establishment for offspring health and survival.

Main Methods:

• Field experiment manipulating corticosterone content in gull eggs.
• Analysis of hatchling telomere length in relation to gut microbiome composition.
• Identification of dominant bacterial genera, including Catellicoccus and Cetobacterium.

Main Results:

• Hatchling telomere length was significantly associated with gut microbiome composition.
• The corticosterone treatment did not affect the relationship between microbiome and telomere length.
• Hatchlings with microbiomes rich in Catellicoccus and Cetobacterium exhibited longer telomeres.

Conclusions:

• Early-life gut microbiome composition is a key factor influencing telomere length in developing birds.
• The establishment of a species-specific microbiome may confer health benefits and enhance survival.
• Maternal stress hormone transfer did not appear to disrupt the beneficial effects of a commensal-dominated microbiome on telomere length in this species.