Dietary and Sexual Correlates of Gut Microbiota in the Japanese Gecko, <i>Gekko japonicus</i> (Schlegel, 1836)
Numerous studies have demonstrated that multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors shape the structure and composition of gut microbiota in a host. The disorder of the gut microbiota may trigger various host diseases. Here, we collected fecal samples from wild-caught Japanese geckos (<i>Gekko ja...
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| author | Xin-Ru Jiang Ying-Yu Dai Yu-Rong Wang Kun Guo Yu Du Jian-Fang Gao Long-Hui Lin Peng Li Hong Li Xiang Ji Yan-Fu Qu |
| author_facet | Xin-Ru Jiang Ying-Yu Dai Yu-Rong Wang Kun Guo Yu Du Jian-Fang Gao Long-Hui Lin Peng Li Hong Li Xiang Ji Yan-Fu Qu |
| author_sort | Xin-Ru Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Numerous studies have demonstrated that multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors shape the structure and composition of gut microbiota in a host. The disorder of the gut microbiota may trigger various host diseases. Here, we collected fecal samples from wild-caught Japanese geckos (<i>Gekko japonicus</i>) and captive conspecifics fed with mealworms (mealworm-fed geckos) and fruit flies (fly-fed geckos), aiming to examine the dietary and sexual correlates of the gut microbiota. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology to determine the composition of the gut microbiota. The dominant phyla with a mean relative abundance higher than 10% were Verrucomicrobiota, Bacteroidota, and Firmicutes. Gut microbial community richness and diversity were higher in mealworm-fed geckos than in wild geckos. Neither community evenness nor beta diversity of gut microbiota differed among wild, mealworm-fed, and fly-fed geckos. The beta rather than alpha diversity of gut microbiota was sex dependent. Based on the relative abundance of gut bacteria and their gene functions, we concluded that gut microbiota contributed more significantly to the host’s metabolic and immune functions. A higher diversity of gut microbiota in mealworm-fed geckos could result from higher chitin content in insects of the order Coleoptera. This study not only provides basic information about the gut microbiota of <i>G. japonicus</i> but also shows that gut microbiota correlates with dietary habits and sex in the species. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-69111d1cbfd04f8fa05e5f961dae93772023-11-17T18:00:47ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-04-01138136510.3390/ani13081365Dietary and Sexual Correlates of Gut Microbiota in the Japanese Gecko, <i>Gekko japonicus</i> (Schlegel, 1836)Xin-Ru Jiang0Ying-Yu Dai1Yu-Rong Wang2Kun Guo3Yu Du4Jian-Fang Gao5Long-Hui Lin6Peng Li7Hong Li8Xiang Ji9Yan-Fu Qu10College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, ChinaHainan Key Laboratory of Herpetological Research, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 572022, ChinaHerpetological Research Center, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaHerpetological Research Center, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaNumerous studies have demonstrated that multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors shape the structure and composition of gut microbiota in a host. The disorder of the gut microbiota may trigger various host diseases. Here, we collected fecal samples from wild-caught Japanese geckos (<i>Gekko japonicus</i>) and captive conspecifics fed with mealworms (mealworm-fed geckos) and fruit flies (fly-fed geckos), aiming to examine the dietary and sexual correlates of the gut microbiota. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology to determine the composition of the gut microbiota. The dominant phyla with a mean relative abundance higher than 10% were Verrucomicrobiota, Bacteroidota, and Firmicutes. Gut microbial community richness and diversity were higher in mealworm-fed geckos than in wild geckos. Neither community evenness nor beta diversity of gut microbiota differed among wild, mealworm-fed, and fly-fed geckos. The beta rather than alpha diversity of gut microbiota was sex dependent. Based on the relative abundance of gut bacteria and their gene functions, we concluded that gut microbiota contributed more significantly to the host’s metabolic and immune functions. A higher diversity of gut microbiota in mealworm-fed geckos could result from higher chitin content in insects of the order Coleoptera. This study not only provides basic information about the gut microbiota of <i>G. japonicus</i> but also shows that gut microbiota correlates with dietary habits and sex in the species.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/8/1365ASVsdiet habit<i>Gekko japonicus</i>gut microbiotasex |
| spellingShingle | Xin-Ru Jiang Ying-Yu Dai Yu-Rong Wang Kun Guo Yu Du Jian-Fang Gao Long-Hui Lin Peng Li Hong Li Xiang Ji Yan-Fu Qu Dietary and Sexual Correlates of Gut Microbiota in the Japanese Gecko, <i>Gekko japonicus</i> (Schlegel, 1836) Animals ASVs diet habit <i>Gekko japonicus</i> gut microbiota sex |
| title | Dietary and Sexual Correlates of Gut Microbiota in the Japanese Gecko, <i>Gekko japonicus</i> (Schlegel, 1836) |
| title_full | Dietary and Sexual Correlates of Gut Microbiota in the Japanese Gecko, <i>Gekko japonicus</i> (Schlegel, 1836) |
| title_fullStr | Dietary and Sexual Correlates of Gut Microbiota in the Japanese Gecko, <i>Gekko japonicus</i> (Schlegel, 1836) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dietary and Sexual Correlates of Gut Microbiota in the Japanese Gecko, <i>Gekko japonicus</i> (Schlegel, 1836) |
| title_short | Dietary and Sexual Correlates of Gut Microbiota in the Japanese Gecko, <i>Gekko japonicus</i> (Schlegel, 1836) |
| title_sort | dietary and sexual correlates of gut microbiota in the japanese gecko i gekko japonicus i schlegel 1836 |
| topic | ASVs diet habit <i>Gekko japonicus</i> gut microbiota sex |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/8/1365 |
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