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PloS one2013; 8(10); e77599; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077599

An in vitro model of the horse gut microbiome enables identification of lactate-utilizing bacteria that differentially respond to starch induction.

Abstract: Laminitis is a chronic, crippling disease triggered by the sudden influx of dietary starch. Starch reaches the hindgut resulting in enrichment of lactic acid bacteria, lactate accumulation, and acidification of the gut contents. Bacterial products enter the bloodstream and precipitate systemic inflammation. Hindgut lactate levels are normally low because specific bacterial groups convert lactate to short chain fatty acids. Why this mechanism fails when lactate levels rapidly rise, and why some hindgut communities can recover is unknown. Fecal samples from three adult horses eating identical diets provided bacterial communities for this in vitro study. Triplicate microcosms of fecal slurries were enriched with lactate and/or starch. Metabolic products (short chain fatty acids, headspace gases, and hydrogen sulfide) were measured and microbial community compositions determined using Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing over 12-hour intervals. We report that patterns of change in short chain fatty acid levels and pH in our in vitro system are similar to those seen in in vivo laminitis induction models. Community differences between microcosms with disparate abilities to clear excess lactate suggest profiles conferring resistance of starch-induction conditions. Where lactate levels recover following starch induction conditions, propionate and acetate levels rise correspondingly and taxa related to Megasphaeraelsdenii reach levels exceeding 70% relative abundance. In lactate and control cultures, taxa related to Veillonellamontpellierensis are enriched as lactate levels fall. Understanding these community differences and factors promoting the growth of specific lactate utilizing taxa may be useful to prevent acidosis under starch-induction conditions.
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Publication Date: 2013-10-01 PubMed ID: 24098591PubMed Central: PMC3788102DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077599Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study explores the bacteria in horse gut that react differently to sudden starch intake, a cause for the crippling disease, laminitis. Using fecal samples from horses eating identical diets, the research observes how certain bacterial communities respond to starch and/or lactate enrichments and identifies the bacterial profiles that could be resistant to such conditions.

Exploring the Horse Gut Microbiome

  • Laminitis in horses is a severe disease caused by the sudden intake of dietary starch. The starch reaches the hindgut, promoting the growth of lactic acid bacteria, leading to the accumulation of lactate and gut acidification. The bacterial products then enter the bloodstream causing systemic inflammation.
  • Usually, specific bacterial groups convert lactate to short chain fatty acids, keeping the lactate levels low in the hindgut. This study aimed to understand why this conversion fails to occur when there is a rapid rise in lactate levels, and why certain gut communities restore faster than others.

Research Methodology

  • Fecal samples from three adult horses consuming similar diets were used in this study. These samples provided the bacterial communities required for this in vitro research.
  • Fecal slurries were prepared and enriched with lactate and/or starch in triplicate microcosms. Following this, the metabolic by-products (short chain fatty acids, headspace gases, and hydrogen sulfide) were measured, and the microbial community compositions were determined by using Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing. These measurements were taken at 12-hour intervals.

Key Findings

  • It was observed that the patterns of change in short chain fatty acid levels and souring in the in vitro system were similar to those seen in the in vivo laminitis induction models.
  • Where lactate levels recover following starch induction conditions, propionate and acetate levels rise correspondingly and taxa related to Megasphaeraelsdenii dominate, reaching over 70% relative abundance.
  • In control and lactate cultures, when lactate levels fall, taxa related to Veillonellamontpellierensis are enriched.
  • These community differences and factors promoting the growth of specific lactate utilizing taxa could be important in preventing acidosis under conditions of starch induction.

Cite This Article

APA
Biddle AS, Black SJ, Blanchard JL. (2013). An in vitro model of the horse gut microbiome enables identification of lactate-utilizing bacteria that differentially respond to starch induction. PLoS One, 8(10), e77599. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0077599

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 10
Pages: e77599
PII: e77599

Researcher Affiliations

Biddle, Amy S
  • Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Black, Samuel J
    Blanchard, Jeffrey L

      MeSH Terms

      • Acetic Acid / metabolism
      • Acidosis, Lactic / microbiology
      • Animal Feed
      • Animals
      • Bacterial Load
      • Cecum / metabolism
      • Cecum / microbiology
      • Colon / metabolism
      • Colon / microbiology
      • Feces / microbiology
      • Horses
      • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
      • Lactic Acid / metabolism
      • Megasphaera / isolation & purification
      • Megasphaera / metabolism
      • Microbiota / physiology
      • Models, Biological
      • Propionates / metabolism
      • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / analysis
      • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
      • Starch / metabolism
      • Veillonella / isolation & purification
      • Veillonella / metabolism

      Conflict of Interest Statement

      The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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