Gut microbiome as a key monitoring indicator for reintroductions of captive animals

Huang, Guangping; Qi, Dunwu; Yang, Zhisong; Hou, Rong; Shi, Wenyu; Zhao, Fangqing; Li, Zitian; Yan, Li; Wei, Fuwen

doi:10.1111/cobi.14173

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Previous research has shown that Clostridium ramosum regulates enterochromaffin cell development and serotonin release (Mandić et al., 2019), while Clostridium scindens converts glucocorticoids to androgens, a group of male steroid hormones, through side‐chain cleavage (Ridlon et al., 2013). Furthermore, the latest study classified wild, reintroduction, and captive giant pandas into three community clusters of gut microbiota (enterotypes), specifically Escherichia , Clostridium , and Pseudomonas enterotypes (Huang et al., 2023). Our results indicated that the incapable group had a higher abundance of Escherichia , while the capable group exhibited an enrichment of Clostridium .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural mating ability is associated with gut microbiota composition and function in captive male giant pandas

Yan,

Lei,

Zhao

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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The issue of poor sexual performance of some male giant pandas seriously impairs the growth and the genetic diversity of the captive population, yet there is still no clear understanding of the cause of the loss of this ability and its underlying mechanism. In this study, we analyzed the gut microbiota and its function in 72 fecal samples obtained from 20 captive male giant pandas, with an equal allocation between individuals capable and incapable of natural mating. Additionally, we investigated fecal hormone levels and behavioral differences between the two groups. A correlation analysis was then conducted among these factors to explore the influencing factors of their natural mating ability. The results showed significant differences in the composition of gut microbiota between the two groups of male pandas. The capable group had significantly higher abundance of Clostridium sensu stricto 1 (padjusted = .0021, GLMM), which was positively correlated with fatty acid degradation and two‐component system functions (Spearman, padjusted < .05). Additionally, the capable group showed higher gene abundance in gut microbiota function including purine and pyrimidine metabolism and galactose metabolism, as well as pathways related to biological processes such as ribosome and homologous recombination (DEseq2, padjusted < .05). We found no significant differences in fecal cortisol and testosterone levels between the two groups, and no difference was found in their behavior either. Our study provides a theoretical and practical basis for further studying the behavioral degradation mechanisms of giant pandas and other endangered mammal species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural mating ability is associated with gut microbiota composition and function in captive male giant pandas

Yan,

Lei,

Zhao

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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“…This will help us protect the small populations of red pandas that are in danger of dying out. The gut microbiota of captive species could approach that of wild populations after being subjected to wild training, and some strains contributed to host dietary adaptation in the wild after release from captivity [ 55 ]. This would further aid in the conservation and restoration of endangered red panda populations in their natural environment.…”

Section: Summary and Prospectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress in Research on the Gut Microflora of the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)

Zhao,

Zhang,

Wang

et al. 2024

Microorganisms

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Animals can adapt to unique feeding habits through changes in the structure and function of the gut microflora. However, the gut microflora is strongly influenced by the evolutionary relationships between the host, nutritional intake, intake of microorganisms, etc. The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), an herbivorous carnivore, has adapted to consuming bamboo through seasonal foraging strategies and optimization of the composition and function of its gut microflora during long-term evolution. However, to date, studies of the gut bacteria of the red panda have mainly focused on the composition, diversity and function of the gut microflora of captive individuals. There are a lack of studies on how the wild red panda adapts to the consumption of bamboo, which is high in fibre and low in nutrients, through the gut microflora. This paper reviews the technology and methods used in published studies investigating the gut microflora of the red panda, as well as the composition, diversity and function of the identified microbes and the influencing factors. Furthermore, this paper suggests future research directions regarding the methodology employed in analyzing the red panda gut microflora, the interplay between gut microflora and the health of the red panda, the red panda’s adaptation to its gut microflora, and the implications of these studies for the management and conservation of wild red pandas. The goal of this review is to provide a reference for the protection of wild red pandas from the perspective of the gut microflora.

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“…Compared to non-Qinling populations of giant pandas, Qinling giant pandas typically exhibit more pronounced differences in their gut microbial structure. A recent study has revealed that three enterotypes, Escherichia (captive period), Clostridium (reintroduction training period), and Pseudomonas (wild period), could characterize the adaptive evolution of gut microbes in captive giant pandas that have been reintroduced to the wild [146]. We found that the gut microbiota of the Qinling giant panda population preferred the gut enterotypes of the reintroduction training period, as Clostridium (38.99%) was the most dominant bacterium in GPQIN, while Escherichia and Pseudomonas were the most abundant constituents in captive (GPCD: 29.09 and GPYA: 37.00%) and wild (GPQIO: 18.56% and GPXXL: 44.16%) giant pandas, respectively.…”

Section: The Uniqueness Of the Gut Bacterial And Phage Community In Q...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential of Co-Evolution and Interactions of Gut Bacteria–Phages in Bamboo-Eating Pandas: Insights from Dietary Preference-Based Metagenomic Analysis

Zhang,

Zhou,

Cui

et al. 2024

Microorganisms

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Bacteria and phages are two of the most abundant biological entities in the gut microbiome, and diet and host phylogeny are two of the most critical factors influencing the gut microbiome. A stable gut bacterial community plays a pivotal role in the host’s physiological development and immune health. A phage is a virus that directly infects bacteria, and phages’ close associations and interactions with bacteria are essential for maintaining the stability of the gut bacterial community and the entire microbial ecosystem. Here, we utilized 99 published metagenomic datasets from 38 mammalian species to investigate the relationship (diversity and composition) and potential interactions between gut bacterial and phage communities and the impact of diet and phylogeny on these communities. Our results highlight the co-evolutionary potential of bacterial–phage interactions within the mammalian gut. We observed a higher alpha diversity in gut bacteria than in phages and identified positive correlations between bacterial and phage compositions. Furthermore, our study revealed the significant influence of diet and phylogeny on mammalian gut bacterial and phage communities. We discovered that the impact of dietary factors on these communities was more pronounced than that of phylogenetic factors at the order level. In contrast, phylogenetic characteristics had a more substantial influence at the family level. The similar omnivorous dietary preference and closer phylogenetic relationship (family Ursidae) may contribute to the similarity of gut bacterial and phage communities between captive giant panda populations (GPCD and GPYA) and omnivorous animals (OC; including Sun bear, brown bear, and Asian black bear). This study employed co-occurrence microbial network analysis to reveal the potential interaction patterns between bacteria and phages. Compared to other mammalian groups (carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores), the gut bacterial and phage communities of bamboo-eating species (giant pandas and red pandas) exhibited a higher level of interaction. Additionally, keystone species and modular analysis showed the potential role of phages in driving and maintaining the interaction patterns between bacteria and phages in captive giant pandas. In sum, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between the gut microbiota and phages in mammals is of great significance, which is of great value in promoting healthy and sustainable mammals and may provide valuable insights into the conservation of wildlife populations, especially endangered animal species.

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Gut microbiome as a key monitoring indicator for reintroductions of captive animals

Cited by 9 publications

References 29 publications

Natural mating ability is associated with gut microbiota composition and function in captive male giant pandas

Natural mating ability is associated with gut microbiota composition and function in captive male giant pandas

Progress in Research on the Gut Microflora of the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)

The Potential of Co-Evolution and Interactions of Gut Bacteria–Phages in Bamboo-Eating Pandas: Insights from Dietary Preference-Based Metagenomic Analysis

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