Diversity and potential function of pig gut DNA viruses
Junjun Qin1, Bingzhen Ji1, Yijia Ma1
1College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China.
Heliyon
|March 14, 2023
Summary
The pig gut virome contains vast undiscovered viral diversity, with composition potentially linked to geography. These gut viruses rarely carry antibiotic resistance genes but possess auxiliary metabolic genes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Animal Science
Background:
- Gut viruses (virome) are common in animals and influence the gut microbiome's ecology.
- The impact of the breeding environment on the pig gut virome is largely unknown.
- Pig gut viromes represent a significant reservoir of undescribed viral genetic diversity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the DNA virome in pig fecal samples.
- To investigate the potential functional roles of pig gut viruses.
- To explore the relationship between geography and pig gut virome composition.
Main Methods:
- Virus-enriched metagenome sequencing was performed on 25 pig fecal samples.
- Viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) longer than 5 kb were identified.
- Genes carried by the viruses were annotated to determine their functions.
Main Results:
- 3584 vOTUs were identified, with only 11.16% classifiable at the family level, indicating high novelty.
- Approximately 50% of viral genes could be annotated, revealing potential roles in metabolism.
- Pig gut virome composition showed regional variations, with only 20 viral clusters shared across six regions.
- Viruses rarely carried antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) but possessed abundant auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs).
Conclusions:
- The pig gut harbors substantial undescribed viral genetic diversity.
- Pig gut virome composition may be influenced by geographical factors and breeding environments.
- Pig gut viruses possess functional genes involved in metabolism, suggesting a role in host physiology.
- This study provides a foundation for understanding the functional significance of the pig gut virome.
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