GD Biotech-Gènes Diffusion, 59000, Lille, France.
Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Sci Rep. 2024 Aug 20;14(1):19277. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-69715-7.
Due to their potential impact on the host's phenotype, organ-specific microbiotas are receiving increasing attention in several animal species, including cattle. Specifically, the vaginal microbiota of ruminants is attracting growing interest, due to its predicted critical role on cows' reproductive functions in livestock contexts. Notably, fertility disorders represent a leading cause for culling, and additional research would help to fill relevant knowledge gaps. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the vaginal microbiota of a large cohort of 1171 female dairy cattle from 19 commercial herds in Northern France. Vaginal samples were collected using a swab and the composition of the microbiota was determined through 16S rRNA sequencing targeting the V3-V4 hypervariable regions. Initial analyses allowed us to define the core bacterial vaginal microbiota, comprising all the taxa observed in more than 90% of the animals. Consequently, four phyla, 16 families, 14 genera and a single amplicon sequence variant (ASV) met the criteria, suggesting a high diversity of bacterial vaginal microbiota within the studied population. This variability was partially attributed to various environmental factors such as the herd, sampling season, parity, and lactation stage. Next, we identified numerous significant associations between the diversity and composition of the vaginal microbiota and several traits related to host's production and reproduction performance, as well as reproductive tract health. Specifically, 169 genera were associated with at least one trait, with 69% of them significantly associated with multiple traits. Among these, the abundances of Negativibacillus and Ruminobacter were positively correlated with the cows' performances (i.e., longevity, production performances). Other genera showed mixed relationships with the phenotypes, such as Leptotrichia being overabundant in cows with improved fertility records and reproductive tract health, but also in cows with lower production levels. Overall, the numerous associations underscored the complex interactions between the vaginal microbiota and its host. Given the large number of samples collected from commercial farms and the diversity of the phenotypes considered, this study marks an initial step towards a better understanding of the intimate relationship between the vaginal microbiota and the dairy cow's phenotypes.
由于其对宿主表型的潜在影响，特定器官的微生物群在包括牛在内的几种动物物种中受到越来越多的关注。具体而言，反刍动物的阴道微生物群由于其在牲畜环境中对奶牛生殖功能的预测关键作用而引起了越来越多的关注。值得注意的是，生育障碍是淘汰的主要原因，进一步的研究将有助于填补相关知识空白。在本研究中，我们旨在对来自法国北部 19 个商业牛群的 1171 头雌性奶牛的大型队列的阴道微生物群进行表征。使用拭子采集阴道样本，通过靶向 V3-V4 高变区的 16S rRNA 测序来确定微生物群的组成。初步分析使我们能够定义核心细菌阴道微生物群，包括在超过 90%的动物中观察到的所有分类群。因此，四个门、16 个科、14 个属和一个单扩增子序列变体 (ASV) 符合标准，表明在所研究的人群中存在高度多样化的细菌阴道微生物群。这种可变性部分归因于各种环境因素，如牛群、采样季节、胎次和泌乳阶段。接下来，我们发现阴道微生物群的多样性和组成与与宿主生产和繁殖性能以及生殖道健康相关的许多特征之间存在许多显著关联。具体来说，有 169 个属与至少一个特征相关，其中 69%与多个特征显著相关。在这些属中，Negativibacillus 和 Ruminobacter 的丰度与牛的表现（即寿命、生产性能）呈正相关。其他属与表型的关系较为复杂，例如 Leptotrichia 在生育记录和生殖道健康得到改善的奶牛中过度丰富，但在生产水平较低的奶牛中也过度丰富。总体而言，大量关联突显了阴道微生物群与其宿主之间的复杂相互作用。鉴于从商业农场收集的大量样本和考虑的表型多样性，这项研究标志着更好地理解阴道微生物群与奶牛表型之间的密切关系的一个初步步骤。
