Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA.
Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA.
mSystems. 2023 Apr 27;8(2):e0112822. doi: 10.1128/msystems.01128-22. Epub 2023 Feb 14.
Shorebirds migrate long distances twice annually, which requires intense physiological and morphological adaptations, including the ability to rapidly gain weight via fat deposition at stopover locations. The role of the microbiome in weight gain in avian hosts is unresolved, but there is substantial evidence to support the hypothesis that the microbiome is involved with host weight from mammalian microbiome literature. Here, we collected 100 fecal samples of Ruddy Turnstones to investigate microbiome composition and function during stopover weight gain in Delaware Bay, USA. Using 16S rRNA sequencing on 90 of these samples and metatranscriptomic sequencing on 22, we show that taxonomic composition of the microbiome shifts during weight gain, as do functional aspects of the metatranscriptome. We identified 10 genes that are associated with weight class, and polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in the microbiota is significantly increasing as birds gain weight. Our results support that the microbiome is a dynamic feature of host biology that interacts with both the host and the environment and may be involved in the rapid weight gain of shorebirds. Many animals migrate long distances annually, and these journeys require intense physiological and morphological adaptations. One such adaptation in shorebirds is the ability to rapidly gain weight at stopover locations in the middle of their migrations. The role of the microbiome in weight gain in birds is unresolved but is likely to play a role. Here, we collected 100 fecal samples from Ruddy Turnstones to investigate microbiome composition (who is there) and function (what they are doing) during stopover weight gain in Delaware Bay, USA. Using multiple molecular methods, we show that both taxonomic composition and function of the microbiome shifts during weight gain. We identified 10 genes that are associated with weight class, and polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in the microbiota is significantly increasing as birds gain weight. Our results support that the microbiome is a dynamic feature of host biology that interacts with both the host and the environment and may be involved in the rapid weight gain of shorebirds.
涉禽每年进行两次长途迁徙，这需要强烈的生理和形态适应，包括在中途停留地通过脂肪沉积快速增重的能力。微生物组在鸟类宿主体重增加中的作用尚未确定，但有大量证据支持微生物组与哺乳动物微生物组文献中的宿主体重有关的假说。在这里，我们收集了美国特拉华湾 100 份红腹滨鹬的粪便样本，以研究中途停留期间体重增加时微生物组的组成和功能。我们使用其中 90 个样本的 16S rRNA 测序和 22 个样本的宏转录组测序，结果表明微生物组的分类组成在体重增加过程中发生变化，宏转录组的功能方面也是如此。我们确定了 10 个与体重等级相关的基因，并且随着鸟类体重的增加，微生物群中多不饱和脂肪酸的生物合成显著增加。我们的研究结果支持微生物组是宿主生物学的一个动态特征，它与宿主和环境相互作用，可能参与了滨鸟的快速增重。许多动物每年都会进行长途迁徙，这些旅程需要强烈的生理和形态适应。滨鸟的一种适应是在迁徙中途的中途停留地快速增重的能力。微生物组在鸟类体重增加中的作用尚未确定，但很可能发挥作用。在这里，我们从红腹滨鹬收集了 100 份粪便样本，以研究美国特拉华湾中途停留期间体重增加时微生物组的组成（谁在那里）和功能（它们在做什么）。使用多种分子方法，我们表明，微生物组的分类组成和功能在体重增加过程中都发生了变化。我们确定了 10 个与体重等级相关的基因，并且随着鸟类体重的增加，微生物群中多不饱和脂肪酸的生物合成显著增加。我们的研究结果支持微生物组是宿主生物学的一个动态特征，它与宿主和环境相互作用，可能参与了滨鸟的快速增重。
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