Comparison of the gut microbiota and untargeted gut tissue metabolome of Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) with different shell colors

Abstract

IntroductionThe Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is a highly valued freshwater crustacean in China. While the natural shell color of E. sinensis is greenish brown (GH), we found a variety with a brownish-orange shell color (RH). Although RH is more expensive, it exhibits a lower molting frequency and growth rate compared with GH, which significantly reduces its yield and hinders large-scale farming. The growth and development of animals are closely related to their gut microbiota and gut tissue metabolic profiles.MethodsIn this study, we compared the gut microbiome communities and metabolic profiles of juvenile RH and GH crabs using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS), respectively.ResultsOur findings indicated that the intestinal microbial composition and metabolic characteristics of E. sinensis differed significantly between RH and GH. At the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level, the α-diversity of the gut microbiota did not differ significantly between RH and GH, while the β-diversity of the RH gut microbiota was higher than that of the GH gut microbiota. At the species level, the richness of unclassified_c_Alphaproteobacteria was significantly higher in the GH group, while the RH group had a significantly higher richness of three low-abundance species, Flavobacteria bacterium BAL38, Paraburkholderia ferrariae, and uncultured_bacterium_g__Legionella. In the current study, 598 gut tissue metabolites were identified, and 159 metabolites were significantly different between GH and RH. The metabolite profile of RH was characteristic of a low level of most amino acids and lipid metabolites and a high level of several pigments compared with that of GH. These metabolites were enriched in 102 KEGG pathways. Four pathways, including (1) Central carbon metabolism in cancer, (2) protein digestion and absorption, (3) alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and (4) aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, were significantly enriched. The correlation analysis between metabolites and microbiotas indicated that most key differential metabolites were positively correlated with the abundance of Shewanella_sp_MR-7.DiscussionThis research provided a greater understanding of the physiological conditions of E. sinensis varieties with different shell colors by comparing the gut microbiota and gut tissue metabolome.

Early Succession of Community Structures and Biotic Interactions of Gut Microbes in Eriocheir sinensis Megalopa after Desalination

“…Here, the dominant species of the gut microbiota belonged to the phylum of Proteobacteria , Actinobacteria , and Bacteroidetes , which is similar to the results of previous studies. For example, Zhu et al found that these three phyla were dominant in gut of adult Eriocheir sinensis [ 44 ]. Bacteria from different phyla usually show differences in maintaining important intestinal functions and homeostasis, thus changes in their relative abundance may not only indicate changes in the external environment, but also characterize differences in host gene expression as well as developmental processes [ 45 , 46 , 47 ].…”

Current Knowledge about Gastric Microbiota with Special Emphasis on Helicobacter pylori-Related Gastric Conditions

“…mostly exhibits an arsenal of compounds which enable it to bind gastric epithelial cells. CagA, VacA, adhesins, and lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) or endotoxins are major molecules able to cause an inflammatory status of the gastric mucosa, which may transit to a neoplastic condition, such as gastric carcinoma [11]. It is noteworthy that the LPS of H.p.…”