Differences in the Gut Microbiota Establishment and Metabolome Characteristics Between Low- and Normal-Birth-Weight Piglets During Early-Life

Abstract

Low-birth-weight (LBW) piglets are at a high-risk for postnatal growth failure, mortality, and metabolic disorders later in life. Early-life microbial exposure is a potentially effective intervention strategy for modulating the health and metabolism of the host. Yet, it has not been well elucidated whether the gut microbiota development in LBW piglets is different from their normal littermates and its possible association with metabolite profiles. In the current study, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics was used to investigate differences in the fecal microbiota and metabolites between LBW and normal piglets during early-life, including day 3 (D3), 7 (D7), 14 (D14), 21 (D21, before weaning), and 35 (D35, after birth). Compared to their normal littermates, LBW piglets harbored low proportions of Faecalibacterium on D3, Flavonifractor on D7, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Prevotella on D21, as well as Howardella on D21 and D35. However, the abundance of Campylobacter on D7 and D21, Prevotella on D14 and D35, Oscillibacter and Moryella on D14 and D21, and Bacteroides on D21 was significantly higher in LBW piglets when compared with normal piglets. The results of the metabolomics analysis suggested that LBW significantly affected fecal metabolites involved in fatty acid metabolism (e.g., linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid), amino acid metabolism (e.g., valine, phenylalanine, and glutamic acid), as well as bile acid biosynthesis (e.g., glycocholic acid, 25-hydroxycholesterol, and chenodeoxycholic acid). Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant negative association between Campylobacter and N1-acetylspermine on D7, Moryella and linoleic acid on D14, Prevotella and chenodeoxycholic acid on D21, and Howardella and phenylalanine on D35, respectively. Collectively, LBW piglets have a different gut bacterial community structure when compared with normal-birth-weight (NBW) piglets during early-life, especially from 7 to 21 days of age. Also, a distinctive metabolic status in LBW piglets might be partly associated with the altered intestinal microbiota. These findings may further elucidate the factors potentially associated with the impaired growth and development of LBW piglets and facilitate the development of nutritional interventions.

Original low birth weight deteriorates the hindgut epithelial barrier function in pigs at the growing stage

“…In the present study, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the most dominant phyla in both colonic and caecal mucosa of NBW and LBW pigs, which was consistent with the previous studies in pigs (61). At the genus level, Streptococcus was predominant in the colonic mucosal microbiota in our study, which was also discovered in the fecal sample of LBW piglets (60). The genus Lactobacillus was predominant in the caecal mucosal microbiota, which was in accordance with a previous study (62).…”

“…Intestinal symbiotic microbes could regulate the intestinal epithelial barrier function by their nature of resistance to pathogens (59). Our findings showed that the microbial diversity (a-and b-diversity) of the colonic and caecal mucosa did not change between NBW and LBW pigs, which was consistent with the previous results for analysis of their fecal microbiota during the neonatal stage (60). In the present study, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the most dominant phyla in both colonic and caecal mucosa of NBW and LBW pigs, which was consistent with the previous studies in pigs (61).…”

Post‐natal co‐development of the microbiota and gut barrier function follows different paths in the small and large intestine in piglets

“…46 Only a very recent report described the microbiota composition in six regions of the gastro-intestinal tract at eight post-natal time-points. Indeed, if we consider fecal samples as a proxy of colonic samples, Li et al observed an increase in fecal richness and diversity with age (PND3 to 21) and a gradual evolution of the fecal microbiota composition from PND3 to 21 45 as observed in the colon in our study. Indeed, if we consider fecal samples as a proxy of colonic samples, Li et al observed an increase in fecal richness and diversity with age (PND3 to 21) and a gradual evolution of the fecal microbiota composition from PND3 to 21 45 as observed in the colon in our study.…”

“…3 The temporal and regional variations that we reported are in line with these published data. Fecal microbiota at PND21 was populated by Lactobacillus (Lactobacillacea), Ruminococcus (Ruminococcaceae), Prevotella (Prevotellaceae), and Rikenella (Rikenellaceae) 45 as observed in the colon at PND28 in our study. Fusobacterium (Fusobacteriaceae) and Bacteroides (Bacteroidaceae) were predominant in the feces at PND3 but decreased at older stages.…”

“…Available data are either a time-course of fecal microbiota composition 44,45 or a region-specific description of the microbiota at one specific time-point. Available data are either a time-course of fecal microbiota composition 44,45 or a region-specific description of the microbiota at one specific time-point.…”