Comparison of gut microflora of donkeys in high and low altitude areas.
Abstract: Donkeys' gut microbe is critical for their health and adaptation to the environment. Little research has been conducted on the donkey gut microbiome compared with other domestic animals. The Tibetan Plateau is an extreme environment. In this study, 6 Qinghai donkeys (QH) from the Tibetan Plateau and 6 Dezhou donkeys (DZ) were investigated, and the contents of 4 parts-stomach, small intestine, cecum, and rectum-were collected. 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomic sequencing were used to analyze the composition and diversity of gut microbial communities in donkeys. The results showed that the flora diversity and richness of the hindgut were significantly higher than those of the foregut ( < 0.01), with no sex differences, and the community structure and composition of the same or adjacent regions (stomach, small intestine, cecum, and rectum) were similar. Besides, the flora diversity and richness of QH on the Tibetan Plateau were significantly higher than those of DZ ( < 0.05). The major pathways associated with QH were signal transduction mechanisms and carbohydrate transport and metabolism, and were the major contributors to these functions. Our study provides novel insights into the contribution of microbiomes to the adaptive evolution of donkeys.
Copyright © 2022 Guo, Zhang, Chen, Shen, Zhang,Wang, Zhang, Pan, Xie, Ai, Dong, Suo, Sun and Liu.
Publication Date: 2022-09-26 PubMed ID: 36225357PubMed Central: PMC9549287DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.964799Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study analyzes the gut microbial communities in two sets of donkeys living at either high or low altitudes. The findings highlight that these microbial structures and their functions are significantly different between the two groups, contributing to the donkeys’ adaptive evolution.
Study Objectives and Methodology
- This study aimed to understand the role of gut microflora in donkeys’ adaptive evolution by comparing the gut microbial communities of donkeys living in low-altitude (Dezhou donkeys – DZ) and high-altitude (Qinghai donkeys – QH) areas.
- The research team analyzed samples collected from four distinct parts of the donkeys’ digestive system: the stomach, small intestine, cecum, and rectum.
- A total of 12 donkeys were studied – 6 from high altitudes and 6 from low altitudes – and gut microbial data was collected through 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomic sequencing techniques.
Key Findings
- The study found that there were no significant differences in gut microflora between male and female donkeys. However, significant differences were found between the foregut (stomach and small intestine) and hindgut (cecum and rectum). More specifically, the study found that the hindgut had a significantly higher microbial diversity and richness than the foregut.
- The results revealed that the gut microflora of QH donkeys from the Tibetan Plateau was significantly more diverse and rich compared to the DZ donkeys from the lower altitudes.
- The major microbiomes associated with the QH donkeys were involved in specific biological processes – signal transduction mechanisms and carbohydrate transport and metabolism.
Impact of Findings
- The findings provide an increased understanding of the critical role of different gut microflora in enhancing donkeys’ adaptive evolution. It highlights the correlation between the living habitat’s altitude and the gut microbial composition and diversity.
- This study potentially opens up new avenues for further studies into how gut microorganisms can significantly contribute to other animals’ adaptation to different environments.
Cite This Article
APA
Guo R, Zhang S, Chen J, Shen W, Zhang G, Wang J, Zhang F, Pan Q, Xie T, Ai D, Dong J, Suo J, Sun Y, Liu S.
(2022).
Comparison of gut microflora of donkeys in high and low altitude areas.
Front Microbiol, 13, 964799.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.964799 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Animal Husbandry General Station, Jinan, Shandong, China.
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Chifeng University, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China.
- Gene Bank of Equine Genetic Resources, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- Gene Bank of Equine Genetic Resources, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- Gene Bank of Equine Genetic Resources, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- Gene Bank of Equine Genetic Resources, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- Qinghai Sheep Breeding and Extension Service Center, Gangcha County, Haibei Prefecture, Qinghai, China.
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, Shandong, China.
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, Shandong, China.
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- Gene Bank of Equine Genetic Resources, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- Vocational College of Dongying, Dongying, Shandong, China.
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- Gene Bank of Equine Genetic Resources, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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