The Cynomolgus Macaque Intestinal Mycobiome Is Dominated by the Kazachstania Genus and K. pintolopesii Species

Abstract

The cynomolgus macaque, Macaca fascicularis, is a non-human primate (NHP) widely used in biomedical research as its genetics, immunology and physiology are similar to those of humans. They may also be a useful model of the intestinal microbiome as their prokaryome resembles that of humans. However, beyond the prokaryome relatively little is known about other constituents of the macaque intestinal microbiome including the mycobiome. Here, we conducted a region-by-region taxonomic survey of the cynomolgus intestinal mycobiota, from duodenum to distal colon, of sixteen captive animals of differing age (from young to old). Using a high-throughput ITS1 amplicon sequencing-based approach, the cynomolgus gut mycobiome was dominated by fungi from the Ascomycota phylum. The budding yeast genus Kazachstania was most abundant, with the thermotolerant species K. pintolopesii highly prevalent, and the predominant species in both the small and large intestines. This is in marked contrast to humans, in which the intestinal mycobiota is characterised by other fungal genera including Candida and Saccharomyces, and Candida albicans. This study provides a comprehensive insight into the fungal communities present within the captive cynomolgus gut, and for the first time identifies K. pintolopesii as a candidate primate gut commensal.

Characterizing bacterial and fungal communities along the longitudinal axis of the intestine in cynomolgus monkeys

“…We also found that Kazachstania represented the main genus in both the small and large intestines of cynomolgus monkeys, which is in accordance with previously reported results (Fig. S4) ( 30 ). However, in human beings, Candida was identified as the dominated mucosa-associated genus in the large intestine, while Kazachstania was scarcely detected ( 31 ).…”

“…In cynomolgus monkeys, the gut bacteria from different sites of the large intestine (caecum and ascending, transverse, and descending colons) had been studied; however, the bacterial community of the small intestine was uncharacterized ( 29 ). As for the fungal microbiome, a region-by-region taxonomic survey of intestinal fungi revealed that the Kazachstania genus and K. pintolopesii species dominated in both the small and large intestines of cynomolgus monkeys ( 30 ). While the composition of intestinal bacteria and fungi was studied along the GI tract of cynomolgus monkeys, the gut biogeography of bacteria and fungi has rarely been studied simultaneously, and their site-specific interactions have not been reported.…”

Kazachstania pintolopesii in Blood and Intestinal Wall of Macrophage-Depleted Mice with Cecal Ligation and Puncture, the Control of Fungi by Macrophages during Sepsis

“…Hence, the discordance of fungal abundance from the samples of feces alone versus feces with intestinal walls due to fungal adherence to the intestinal mucosa is possible. While C. albicans is common in the human gut [62][63][64] and C. tropicalis is associated with IBD in patients [61], the isolated K. pintolopesii, the common fungi in laboratory mice [57,65] might be associated with mouse sepsis severity. As macrophages play a crucial role in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis, especially gut fungi [22], the fungal overgrowth in the condition without macrophages is not surprising.…”

Nanoparticles Self-Assembled from Berberine and Chrysin for Generating Antimicrobial Films

“…During periods of weakened host immunity or prolonged antibiotic treatment, pathogenic organisms have the potential to cause persistent infections on the surface or within mucosal tissues, as well as life-threatening systemic diseases .…”