Fecal and oral microbiome analysis of snakes from China reveals a novel natural emerging disease reservoir
IntroductionThe gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity of animal species harbor complex microbial communities, the composition of which is indicative of the behavior, co-evolution, diet, and immune system of the host.MethodsThis study investigated the microbial composition in snakes from varying alt...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1339188/full |
| _version_ | 1827383979869732864 |
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| author | Xiaoliang Hu Lu Yang Yue Zhang Manman Yang Jiayi Li Yuping Fan Peng Guo Zhige Tian |
| author_facet | Xiaoliang Hu Lu Yang Yue Zhang Manman Yang Jiayi Li Yuping Fan Peng Guo Zhige Tian |
| author_sort | Xiaoliang Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity of animal species harbor complex microbial communities, the composition of which is indicative of the behavior, co-evolution, diet, and immune system of the host.MethodsThis study investigated the microbial composition in snakes from varying altitudinal ranges by assessing the fecal and oral bacterial communities in Protobothrops mucrosquamatus, Elaphe dione, and Gloydius angusticeps from Sichuan Province, China, using metagenomic sequencing.Results and discussionIt was revealed that Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Fusobacteria were the core microbial phyla in fecal samples across all three species, while Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were the core microbial phyla in oral samples across all three species. Notably, the dominance of Armatimonadetes was documented for the first time in the feces of all three species. Comparative analysis of the microbiomes of the three species indicated distinct microbiological profiles between snakes living at low- and high-altitude regions. Furthermore, 12 to 17 and 22 to 31 bacterial pathogens were detected in the oral and fecal samples, respectively, suggesting that snakes may serve as a novel reservoir for emerging diseases. Overall, this study provides a comparative analysis of the fecal and oral microbiomes in three snake species. Future investigations are anticipated to further elucidate the influence of age, genetics, behavior, diet, environment, ecology, and evolution on the gut and oral microbial communities of snakes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:48:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d7b5b46b36e4800a2405739d1616718 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:48:56Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d7b5b46b36e4800a2405739d16167182024-01-11T05:03:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2024-01-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.13391881339188Fecal and oral microbiome analysis of snakes from China reveals a novel natural emerging disease reservoirXiaoliang HuLu YangYue ZhangManman YangJiayi LiYuping FanPeng GuoZhige TianIntroductionThe gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity of animal species harbor complex microbial communities, the composition of which is indicative of the behavior, co-evolution, diet, and immune system of the host.MethodsThis study investigated the microbial composition in snakes from varying altitudinal ranges by assessing the fecal and oral bacterial communities in Protobothrops mucrosquamatus, Elaphe dione, and Gloydius angusticeps from Sichuan Province, China, using metagenomic sequencing.Results and discussionIt was revealed that Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Fusobacteria were the core microbial phyla in fecal samples across all three species, while Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were the core microbial phyla in oral samples across all three species. Notably, the dominance of Armatimonadetes was documented for the first time in the feces of all three species. Comparative analysis of the microbiomes of the three species indicated distinct microbiological profiles between snakes living at low- and high-altitude regions. Furthermore, 12 to 17 and 22 to 31 bacterial pathogens were detected in the oral and fecal samples, respectively, suggesting that snakes may serve as a novel reservoir for emerging diseases. Overall, this study provides a comparative analysis of the fecal and oral microbiomes in three snake species. Future investigations are anticipated to further elucidate the influence of age, genetics, behavior, diet, environment, ecology, and evolution on the gut and oral microbial communities of snakes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1339188/fullProtobothrops mucrosquamatusElaphe dioneGloydius angusticepsmicrobiomebacterial pathogens |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoliang Hu Lu Yang Yue Zhang Manman Yang Jiayi Li Yuping Fan Peng Guo Zhige Tian Fecal and oral microbiome analysis of snakes from China reveals a novel natural emerging disease reservoir Frontiers in Microbiology Protobothrops mucrosquamatus Elaphe dione Gloydius angusticeps microbiome bacterial pathogens |
| title | Fecal and oral microbiome analysis of snakes from China reveals a novel natural emerging disease reservoir |
| title_full | Fecal and oral microbiome analysis of snakes from China reveals a novel natural emerging disease reservoir |
| title_fullStr | Fecal and oral microbiome analysis of snakes from China reveals a novel natural emerging disease reservoir |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fecal and oral microbiome analysis of snakes from China reveals a novel natural emerging disease reservoir |
| title_short | Fecal and oral microbiome analysis of snakes from China reveals a novel natural emerging disease reservoir |
| title_sort | fecal and oral microbiome analysis of snakes from china reveals a novel natural emerging disease reservoir |
| topic | Protobothrops mucrosquamatus Elaphe dione Gloydius angusticeps microbiome bacterial pathogens |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1339188/full |
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