Sexual Dimorphism of the Gut Microbiota in the Chinese Alligator and Its Convergence in the Wild Environment
The gut microbiota forms a complex microecosystem in vertebrates and is affected by various factors. As a key intrinsic factor, sex has a persistent impact on the formation and development of gut microbiota. Few studies have analyzed sexual dimorphism of gut microbiota, particularly in wild animals....
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-10-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/20/12140 |
| _version_ | 1797440926226841600 |
|---|---|
| author | Meng-Yuan Hu Qin-Zhang Yu Jian-Qing Lin Sheng-Guo Fang |
| author_facet | Meng-Yuan Hu Qin-Zhang Yu Jian-Qing Lin Sheng-Guo Fang |
| author_sort | Meng-Yuan Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The gut microbiota forms a complex microecosystem in vertebrates and is affected by various factors. As a key intrinsic factor, sex has a persistent impact on the formation and development of gut microbiota. Few studies have analyzed sexual dimorphism of gut microbiota, particularly in wild animals. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze the gut microbiota of juvenile and adult Chinese alligators, and untargeted metabolomics to study serum metabolomes of adult alligators. We observed significant sexual differences in the community diversity in juvenile, but not adult, alligators. In terms of taxonomic composition, the phylum Fusobacteriota and genus <i>Cetobacterium</i> were highly abundant in adult alligators, similar to those present in carnivorous fishes, whereas the gut microbiota composition in juvenile alligators resembled that in terrestrial reptiles, indicating that adults are affected by their wild aquatic environment and lack sex dimorphism in gut microbiota. The correlation analysis revealed that the gut microbiota of adults was also affected by cyanobacteria in the external environment, and this effect was sex-biased and mediated by sex hormones. Overall, this study reveals sexual differences in the gut microbiota of crocodilians and their convergence in the external environment, while also providing insights into host–microbiota interactions in wildlife. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:15:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-135d5eb977884d76a4cab3f0b52716e9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:15:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-135d5eb977884d76a4cab3f0b52716e92023-11-30T22:46:35ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-10-0123201214010.3390/ijms232012140Sexual Dimorphism of the Gut Microbiota in the Chinese Alligator and Its Convergence in the Wild EnvironmentMeng-Yuan Hu0Qin-Zhang Yu1Jian-Qing Lin2Sheng-Guo Fang3MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection, State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaMOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection, State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, ChinaMOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection, State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaThe gut microbiota forms a complex microecosystem in vertebrates and is affected by various factors. As a key intrinsic factor, sex has a persistent impact on the formation and development of gut microbiota. Few studies have analyzed sexual dimorphism of gut microbiota, particularly in wild animals. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze the gut microbiota of juvenile and adult Chinese alligators, and untargeted metabolomics to study serum metabolomes of adult alligators. We observed significant sexual differences in the community diversity in juvenile, but not adult, alligators. In terms of taxonomic composition, the phylum Fusobacteriota and genus <i>Cetobacterium</i> were highly abundant in adult alligators, similar to those present in carnivorous fishes, whereas the gut microbiota composition in juvenile alligators resembled that in terrestrial reptiles, indicating that adults are affected by their wild aquatic environment and lack sex dimorphism in gut microbiota. The correlation analysis revealed that the gut microbiota of adults was also affected by cyanobacteria in the external environment, and this effect was sex-biased and mediated by sex hormones. Overall, this study reveals sexual differences in the gut microbiota of crocodilians and their convergence in the external environment, while also providing insights into host–microbiota interactions in wildlife.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/20/12140gut microbiotaserum metabolomesexual dimorphismChinese alligator<i>Alligator sinensis</i>wildlife |
| spellingShingle | Meng-Yuan Hu Qin-Zhang Yu Jian-Qing Lin Sheng-Guo Fang Sexual Dimorphism of the Gut Microbiota in the Chinese Alligator and Its Convergence in the Wild Environment International Journal of Molecular Sciences gut microbiota serum metabolome sexual dimorphism Chinese alligator <i>Alligator sinensis</i> wildlife |
| title | Sexual Dimorphism of the Gut Microbiota in the Chinese Alligator and Its Convergence in the Wild Environment |
| title_full | Sexual Dimorphism of the Gut Microbiota in the Chinese Alligator and Its Convergence in the Wild Environment |
| title_fullStr | Sexual Dimorphism of the Gut Microbiota in the Chinese Alligator and Its Convergence in the Wild Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual Dimorphism of the Gut Microbiota in the Chinese Alligator and Its Convergence in the Wild Environment |
| title_short | Sexual Dimorphism of the Gut Microbiota in the Chinese Alligator and Its Convergence in the Wild Environment |
| title_sort | sexual dimorphism of the gut microbiota in the chinese alligator and its convergence in the wild environment |
| topic | gut microbiota serum metabolome sexual dimorphism Chinese alligator <i>Alligator sinensis</i> wildlife |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/20/12140 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mengyuanhu sexualdimorphismofthegutmicrobiotainthechinesealligatoranditsconvergenceinthewildenvironment AT qinzhangyu sexualdimorphismofthegutmicrobiotainthechinesealligatoranditsconvergenceinthewildenvironment AT jianqinglin sexualdimorphismofthegutmicrobiotainthechinesealligatoranditsconvergenceinthewildenvironment AT shengguofang sexualdimorphismofthegutmicrobiotainthechinesealligatoranditsconvergenceinthewildenvironment |