Plant and Animal-Type Feedstuff Shape the Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Processes of the Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensis

Abstract

In animals, growth and development are strongly correlated with the gut microbiota and metabolic profiles. In this study, gut microbiome communities, metabolic profiles, and growth performance of Eriocheir sinensis under three dietary feed types based on waterweed plants only, freshwater snails only, and waterweed plants combined with freshwater snails were studied by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results indicated that different feed types dramatically affected the growth performances of E. sinensis by altering the gut microbiota and metabolic profiles. Aquatic plants, such as waterweeds, played essential roles in shaping gut microbiome communities, and the optimal Bacteroides-to-Firmicutes ratio might strongly promote growth performance. Waterweed plants also helped decrease maleficent Proteobacteria caused by excess animal-type feedstuff, such as freshwater snails, and might have positive roles in antibacterial functions in gut. A diet based on waterweeds only resulted in lipid metabolism disorders, which significantly retarded the growth of E. sinensis. In summary, E. sinensis cultured with a diet of waterweeds and freshwater snails showed superior growth performance due to their healthy gut microbiota and metabolic homeostasis. Our findings unveiled the roles of aquatic plants and animal-type food such as freshwater snail in shaping the gut microbiota and metabolic processes and provided guidance for the aquaculture of E. sinensis in future.

Characterization of Gut Microbiome in the Mud Snail Cipangopaludina cathayensis in Response to High-Temperature Stress

“…It is also worth noting that the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio slightly decreased in T1 and T2. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio is an important biomarker of gut dysbiosis [ 55 ]; a decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio affects nutrient metabolism and restricts the growth of aquaculture animals [ 32 , 56 ]. Thus, a decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio may have adverse effects on C. cathayensis growth [ 56 ].…”

“…These results are consistent with the change trend of Firmicutes abundance observed in different treatment groups, which is known to be positively correlated with intestinal nutrient metabolism and nutrient absorption [ 32 ]. A reduction in the abundance of Firmicutes was reported to hamper growth in aquaculture animals [ 32 , 56 ]. Therefore, we speculate that increasing temperatures disrupt Firmicutes homeostasis and inhibit carbohydrate metabolism pathways, thus, inhibiting the growth of C. cathayensis .…”

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

“…Gut microbiota composition is shaped by the host’s genetic background, developmental stage, health status, and environment ( Ussar et al, 2016 ; Cahana and Iraqi, 2020 ; Li et al, 2021 ; Qin et al, 2022 ). Researchers have performed many studies comparing the gut microbiota of E. sinensis among different environments, diets, and ages and that of healthy and diseased individuals ( Ding et al, 2017 ; Wang et al, 2019 ; Chen et al, 2021b ; Shao et al, 2022 ; Xu et al, 2022 ). However, reports related to host genetic backgrounds are scarce.…”

“…The metabolite profile can not only reflect the physiological condition of the organism ( Bundy et al, 2009 ; Wishart, 2019 ) but also define the functional status of the host and microbiota ( Chen et al, 2019 ). Therefore, many studies have focused on E. sinensis metabolome variations related to food, disease, and the environment ( Chen et al, 2021b ; Guo et al, 2022 ; Jiang et al, 2022 ). In aquatic animals, integrative analysis of the microbiota and metabolome has been utilized to investigate alterations in the physiological status of hosts related to differences in nutrition intake ( Chen et al, 2021b ), habitats ( Chen et al, 2021a ), growth performance ( Uengwetwanit et al, 2020 ; Lan et al, 2023 ), and aquaculture systems ( Ding et al, 2022 ; Yokoyama et al, 2022 ).To our knowledge, there has been no metabolomic study related to the different shell colors of E. sinensis thus far.…”

Plant-derived tormentic acid alters the gut microbiota of the silkworm (Bombyx mori)

“…Diet greatly impacts the gut microbiota profile of the organisms, and it is significantly associated with health and disease 24,25 . It is also possible to manipulate gut microbiota by using different diets [26][27][28][29][30] .…”