Starvation causes changes in the intestinal transcriptome and microbiome that are reversed upon refeeding

Area of Science:

• Animal models
• Microbiome research
• Genomics

Background:

• Animal survival depends on adapting to starvation and refeeding.
• The intestine and its microbiome are key sites for nutrient absorption and interaction.
• Limited understanding exists regarding intestinal adaptations during starvation and refeeding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in the intestinal transcriptome and microbiome of zebrafish during long-term starvation and refeeding.
• To compare these changes with continuously fed controls.

Main Methods:

• RNA sequencing to analyze host gene expression.
• 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze microbiome composition.
• Zebrafish model subjected to long-term starvation and refeeding.

Main Results:

• Starvation (21 days) increased gut microbiome diversity and altered composition (e.g., increased Vibrio, decreased Plesiomonas).
• Host gene expression changed, with early increases in ribosome biogenesis and later decreases in antiviral immunity and lipid transport genes.
• Refeeding (3 days) almost completely restored both microbiome and host gene expression.

Conclusions:

• Long-term starvation causes progressive changes in the zebrafish intestine's microbiome and host gene expression.
• These adaptive changes are rapidly reversible after refeeding.
• Identified bacterial taxa, host genes, and pathways provide a basis for studying food restriction adaptations.