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Rodents consuming the same toxic diet harbor a unique functional core microbiome.
Tess E Stapleton1, LeAnn M Lindsey2, Hari Sundar2
1School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA. tstapleton06@gmail.com.
Animal Microbiome
|July 31, 2024
Summary
Woodrats feeding on toxic creosote bush develop unique gut microbiomes. These specialized gut microbes possess functions crucial for metabolizing plant secondary compounds (PSCs), demonstrating diet-driven microbiome adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Microbial Ecology
- Animal Physiology
- Plant-Animal Interactions
Background:
- Gut microbiota are essential for herbivores, but their adaptation to toxic plant secondary compounds (PSCs) is poorly understood.
- Woodrats (Neotoma spp.) provide a natural experiment to study microbiome adaptation due to their varied diets, including toxic plants like creosote bush.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if woodrats feeding on creosote bush harbor unique gut microbiomes.
- To identify specific microbial functions and taxa associated with processing PSCs in the woodrat gut.
Main Methods:
- 16S rRNA sequencing and shotgun metagenomics were used to analyze gut microbiomes from woodrat populations with differential creosote bush ingestion.
- Samples were collected from three gut regions (foregut, cecum, hindgut) across multiple populations in the U.S. desert southwest.
Main Results:
- Distinct microbial communities were identified in woodrats consuming creosote bush across all sampled gut regions.
- Core microbes belonged to families like Eggerthellaceae, known for PSC metabolism.
- Key enzymes involved in PSC degradation were enriched in the microbiomes of creosote-feeding woodrats.
Conclusions:
- The woodrat gut microbiome is significantly shaped by the ingestion of toxic creosote bush.
- Specialized microbial communities and functions evolve to facilitate the degradation of PSCs, enabling herbivory on challenging diets.
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