Lactobacillus spp. in the reproductive system of female moths and mating induced changes and possible transmission
Abstract Background The microbiome in the insect reproductive tract is poorly understood. Our previous study demonstrated the presence of Lactobacillus spp. in female moths, but their distribution and function remain unclear. Lactobacillus spp. are known as the ‘healthy’ vaginal microbiome in humans...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-022-02724-6 |
| _version_ | 1797977514104061952 |
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| author | Qing-Yi Zhao Luo-Yan Zhang Da-Ying Fu Jin Xu Peng Chen Hui Ye |
| author_facet | Qing-Yi Zhao Luo-Yan Zhang Da-Ying Fu Jin Xu Peng Chen Hui Ye |
| author_sort | Qing-Yi Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The microbiome in the insect reproductive tract is poorly understood. Our previous study demonstrated the presence of Lactobacillus spp. in female moths, but their distribution and function remain unclear. Lactobacillus spp. are known as the ‘healthy’ vaginal microbiome in humans. Results Here, we studied the microbiome in the reproductive system (RS) and gut of Spodoptera frugiperda using 16S rDNA sequences. The obtained 4315 bacterial OTUs were classified into 61 phyla and 642 genera, with Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidota being the top three dominant phyla and Enterococcus and Asaia being dominant genera in most samples. Mating dramatically increased the abundance of pathogens or pathogenic functions in the gut, while in the RS, the change range was trivial. Taxonomy assignment identified thirteen Lactobacillus spp. in S. frugiperda, with Lactobacillus crustorum and Lactobacillus murinus showing high abundance. Three species found in S. frugiperda, namely L. reuteri, L. plantarum and L. brevis, have also been identified as human ‘healthy’ vaginal bacterial species. Lactobacillus spp. showed higher abundance in the RS of virgin females and lower abundance in the RS of virgin males and the gut of virgin females. Mating reduced their abundance in the RS of females but increased their abundance in the RS of males, especially in males mated with multiple females. The RS of virgin females and of multiple mated males were very similar in terms of composition and abundance of Lactobacillus species, with Lactobacillus crustorum showing much higher abundance in both tissues, potentially due to sexual transmission. Conclusions Lactobacillus spp. showed high abundance and diversity in the RS of female moths. The higher abundance of Lactobacillus spp. in the RS of female moths and the similarity of Lactobacillus species in female moths with human ‘healthy’ vaginal Lactobacillus spp. suggest that these bacterial strains are also an important microbiome in the RS of female moths. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:09:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-059cbf4e0ee54c119778203212a9922e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2180 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:09:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-059cbf4e0ee54c119778203212a9922e2022-12-25T12:06:54ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802022-12-0122111510.1186/s12866-022-02724-6Lactobacillus spp. in the reproductive system of female moths and mating induced changes and possible transmissionQing-Yi Zhao0Luo-Yan Zhang1Da-Ying Fu2Jin Xu3Peng Chen4Hui Ye5Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry UniversityYunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry UniversityYunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry UniversityYunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry UniversityYunnan Academy of Forestry and GrasslandSchool of Ecology and Environment, Yunnan UniversityAbstract Background The microbiome in the insect reproductive tract is poorly understood. Our previous study demonstrated the presence of Lactobacillus spp. in female moths, but their distribution and function remain unclear. Lactobacillus spp. are known as the ‘healthy’ vaginal microbiome in humans. Results Here, we studied the microbiome in the reproductive system (RS) and gut of Spodoptera frugiperda using 16S rDNA sequences. The obtained 4315 bacterial OTUs were classified into 61 phyla and 642 genera, with Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidota being the top three dominant phyla and Enterococcus and Asaia being dominant genera in most samples. Mating dramatically increased the abundance of pathogens or pathogenic functions in the gut, while in the RS, the change range was trivial. Taxonomy assignment identified thirteen Lactobacillus spp. in S. frugiperda, with Lactobacillus crustorum and Lactobacillus murinus showing high abundance. Three species found in S. frugiperda, namely L. reuteri, L. plantarum and L. brevis, have also been identified as human ‘healthy’ vaginal bacterial species. Lactobacillus spp. showed higher abundance in the RS of virgin females and lower abundance in the RS of virgin males and the gut of virgin females. Mating reduced their abundance in the RS of females but increased their abundance in the RS of males, especially in males mated with multiple females. The RS of virgin females and of multiple mated males were very similar in terms of composition and abundance of Lactobacillus species, with Lactobacillus crustorum showing much higher abundance in both tissues, potentially due to sexual transmission. Conclusions Lactobacillus spp. showed high abundance and diversity in the RS of female moths. The higher abundance of Lactobacillus spp. in the RS of female moths and the similarity of Lactobacillus species in female moths with human ‘healthy’ vaginal Lactobacillus spp. suggest that these bacterial strains are also an important microbiome in the RS of female moths.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-022-02724-6Spodoptera frugiperdaLactobacillusReproductive systemGutMatingSexually transmitted microbes |
| spellingShingle | Qing-Yi Zhao Luo-Yan Zhang Da-Ying Fu Jin Xu Peng Chen Hui Ye Lactobacillus spp. in the reproductive system of female moths and mating induced changes and possible transmission BMC Microbiology Spodoptera frugiperda Lactobacillus Reproductive system Gut Mating Sexually transmitted microbes |
| title | Lactobacillus spp. in the reproductive system of female moths and mating induced changes and possible transmission |
| title_full | Lactobacillus spp. in the reproductive system of female moths and mating induced changes and possible transmission |
| title_fullStr | Lactobacillus spp. in the reproductive system of female moths and mating induced changes and possible transmission |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lactobacillus spp. in the reproductive system of female moths and mating induced changes and possible transmission |
| title_short | Lactobacillus spp. in the reproductive system of female moths and mating induced changes and possible transmission |
| title_sort | lactobacillus spp in the reproductive system of female moths and mating induced changes and possible transmission |
| topic | Spodoptera frugiperda Lactobacillus Reproductive system Gut Mating Sexually transmitted microbes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-022-02724-6 |
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