Temporal and geographic distribution of gut microbial enterotypes associated with host thermogenesis characteristics in plateau pikas

Abstract

Differentiation of the gut microbiota between individuals within a species can be identified by enterotypes. However, whether different enterotypes are associated with host-related physiological status and adaptation to specific habitats is still poorly understood. In this study, we collected 308 cecal samples from plateau pikas during varying seasons and altitudes. We identified three bacterial and two fungal enterotypes. The proportion of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group - and Prevotella -predominated enterotype 3 was higher than that of the other two enterotypes in all samples. Enterotype 1, distinguished by norank Muribaculaceae , was mainly detected during the warm season and at high altitudes, whereas enterotype 2, which is unclassified Lachnospiraceae , was mainly detected during the cold season. Plateau pikas with bacterial enterotypes 2 and 3 showed significantly higher alpha diversity than those with enterotype 1, while pikas with fungal enterotype 1 displayed higher diversity than those with enterotype 2. Functional pathways of lipid metabolism were enriched in bacterial enterotype 1, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism were enriched in enterotype 2, and energy metabolism was enriched in enterotype 3. The neutral process was more important in bacterial enterotype 3 than in enterotypes 1 and 2. The body temperature and resting metabolic rate of pikas with bacterial enterotypes 1 and 3 were significantly higher than those with enterotype 2. Pikas with unclassified Sporormiaceae - and Sporormiella -dominated fungal enterotypes may engage more frequently in coprophagy. Overall, this study revealed that both gut bacterial and fungal communities in pikas can be clustered into enterotypes, and individuals with different enterotypes showed significant differences in thermogenesis. IMPORTANCE The gut microbiotas of small mammals play an important role in host energy homeostasis. However, it is still unknown whether small mammals with different enterotypes show differences in thermogenesis characteristics. Our study confirmed that plateau pikas with different bacterial enterotypes harbored distinct thermogenesis capabilities and employed various strategies against cold environments. Additionally, we also found that pikas with different fungal enterotypes may display differences in coprophagy.

Distinct Gut Microbial Enterotypes and Functional Dynamics in Wild Striped Field Mice (Apodemus agrarius) across Diverse Populations

“…Alternatively, it suggested a decay in similarity among gut microbial communities across individuals as a result of geographical distance. This finding aligned with conclusions drawn from studies on species such as house mice [59][60][61][62][63], pikas [20], woodrats [64], and wild leaf miners [31]. Variations in altitude and BMI may play a role in the systematic phylogenetic turnover differences or compositional disparities observed in the formation of the two enterotypes of gut microbiota.…”

“…Variations in altitude and BMI may play a role in the systematic phylogenetic turnover differences or compositional disparities observed in the formation of the two enterotypes of gut microbiota. This could be attributed to the direct or indirect impact of altitude and BMI variations on host physiological conditions, metabolic activities, and immune system functionality [20,62,65,66]. These factors may affect the stability of the host's gut environment and the availability of ecological niche space, resulting in alterations in the structure and function of microbial communities [67,68].…”

“…[18], fruit flies (Drosophila sp.) [19], and pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) [20][21][22], suggesting that enterotypes may be prevalent in animal gut microbes and may help to better characterize these microbiomes and to provide answers to questions about the correlation between microbes and the host.…”

Altitude shapes gut microbiome composition accounting for diet, thyroid hormone levels, and host genetics in a subterranean blind mole rat

“…Muribaculaceae was reported to be linked with immune function [116,117] and to be more abundant in hypobaric hypoxic rats [118]. A study on the plateau pikas found that Muribaculaceae is more abundant in the warm season and at high altitudes [119]. Similarly, we observed a signi cant increase in the abundance of Muribaculaceae with increasing altitude, while all our samples were collected during the warmest time of the year.…”

Linking growth performance and carcass traits with enterotypes in Muscovy ducks

“…Similar findings have been reported in other studies, indicating ETs might have the potential to predict carcass traits, which could be beneficial for the grading of duck meat. Lu discovered that the intestinal flora in pigs can be categorized into two ETs, which might be associated with backfat thickness and daily weight gain [ 37 ]. Wang observed that certain strains of Prevotella present in the intestine of pigs played a direct role in feed conversion rate and contributed to the host’s nutrition supply.…”