Variation of Gut Microbiome in Free-Ranging Female Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) across Different Reproductive States

Abstract

The gut microbiome is expected to adapt to the varying energetic and nutritional pressures in females of different reproductive states. Changes in the gut microbiome may lead to varying nutrient utilizing efficiency in pregnant and lactating female primates. In this study, we examined variation in the gut bacterial community composition of wild female Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) across different reproductive states (cycling, pregnancy and lactation). Fecal samples (n = 25) were collected from ten adult females harvested across different reproductive states. Gut microbial community composition and potential functions were assessed using 16 S rRNA gene sequences. We found significant changes in gut bacterial taxonomic composition, structure and their potential functions in different reproductive states of our study species. In particular, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria increased significantly during pregnancy and lactation. In addition, the relative abundance of Succinivibrionaceae and Succinivibrio (Succinivibrionaceae) were overrepresented in pregnant females, whereas Bifidobacteriaceae and Bifidobacterium (Bifidobacteriaceae) were overrepresented in lactating females. Furthermore, the relative abundance of predicted functional genes of several metabolic pathways related to host’s energy and nutrition, such as metabolism of carbohydrates, cofactors and vitamins, glycans and other amino acids, were enriched in pregnancy and lactation. Our findings suggest that changes in the gut microbiome may play an important role in meeting the energetic needs of pregnant and lactating Tibetan macaques. Future studies of the “microbial reproductive ecology” of primates that incorporate food availability, reproductive seasonality, female reproductive physiology and gut inflammation are warranted.

Differences in Diet and Gut Microbiota Between Lactating and Non-lactating Asian Particolored Bats (Vespertilio sinensis): Implication for a Connection Between Diet and Gut Microbiota

“…Studies on the human gut microbiota have shown that markers of microbial stability, such as richness and diversity, are often used as indicators of gut health (Gentile and Weir, 2018). In a few cases, they confirmed that the diversity of the intestinal microbiota of mammalian females changed with reproductive status (Gaona et al, 2019;Sun et al, 2020). However, these studies did not emphasize the role of dietary changes during lactation in shaping the structural diversity of gut microbiota (Phillips et al, 2012).…”

“…Recent studies implied that the community composition and diversity of the gut microbiota can covary with dietary changes, and that these changes are beneficial to the host, such that they can meet the energy and nutrition requirements of lactation ( Phillips et al, 2017 ). So far, most research on lactating females has focused on the effects of the altered reproductive status and hormones on gut microbiota ( Mallott et al, 2020 ; Sun et al, 2020 ); few studies have examined whether changes in diet composition during lactation cause corresponding changes in gut microbiota. To examine the food composition and gut microbial structure of mammals during lactation, and try to establish the relationship between diet and gut microbiota during their most energetically costly phase, we focused on an insectivorous bat species in northeast China: the Asian particolored bat ( Vespertilio sinensis ).…”

Microbial Enterotypes Shape the Divergence in Gut Fermentation, Host Metabolism, and Growth Rate of Young Goats

“…Succinivibrio is efficient in fermenting carbohydrate through the production of acetate and succinate, a precursor of propionate, as well as in metabolizing various fatty acids ( 23 , 24 ). Several studies have reported that increased Succinivibrio may be beneficial to improve energy utilization efficiency and meet the energetic needs of animals ( 25 , 26 ). Overall, the bacteria which were enriched in cluster 1 seem to have strong capability for carbohydrate fermentation and improving energy supply in young goats.…”

The Gut Microbiome and Female Health

“…The relative abundance of Lactobacillus notably increased from the late pregnancy to the postpartum stage while the Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes ratio and the relative Prevotella abundance decreased [ 69 ]. An investigation of gut microbiota composition alterations across different reproductive periods of Tibetan macaques wild females revealed nonnegligible deviations in taxonomic structure, composition, and potential functions of gut microbes [ 79 ]. The study revealed an increase in the relative abundance of Proteobacteria during pregnancy and lactation, and an overrepresentation of the relative abundance of Succinivibrionaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae in pregnant and lactating females, respectively [ 79 ].…”