Gut Dysbiosis in Animals Due to Environmental Chemical Exposures

Abstract

The gut microbiome consists of over 103–104 microorganism inhabitants that together possess 150 times more genes that the human genome and thus should be considered an “organ” in of itself. Such communities of bacteria are in dynamic flux and susceptible to changes in host environment and body condition. In turn, gut microbiome disturbances can affect health status of the host. Gut dysbiosis might result in obesity, diabetes, gastrointestinal, immunological, and neurobehavioral disorders. Such host diseases can originate due to shifts in microbiota favoring more pathogenic species that produce various virulence factors, such as lipopolysaccharide. Bacterial virulence factors and metabolites may be transmitted to distal target sites, including the brain. Other potential mechanisms by which gut dysbiosis can affect the host include bacterial-produced metabolites, production of hormones and factors that mimic those produced by the host, and epimutations. All animals, including humans, are exposed daily to various environmental chemicals that can influence the gut microbiome. Exposure to such chemicals might lead to downstream systemic effects that occur secondary to gut microbiome disturbances. Increasing reports have shown that environmental chemical exposures can target both host and the resident gut microbiome. In this review, we will first consider the current knowledge of how endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), heavy metals, air pollution, and nanoparticles can influence the gut microbiome. The second part of the review will consider how potential environmental chemical-induced gut microbiome changes might subsequently induce pathophysiological responses in the host, although definitive evidence for such effects is still lacking. By understanding how these chemicals result in gut dysbiosis, it may open up new remediation strategies in animals, including humans, exposed to such chemicals.

Faecal microbiota and functional capacity associated with weaning weight in meat rabbits

“…Previous studies have revealed that genetics, diet and health affect weaning weight of meat rabbits (Gomez‐Conde, et al , ; Volek, et al , ; De Blas, ; Drouilhet, et al , ; Garreau, et al , ). Recently, evidence has suggested that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in weaning weight modulation (Rosenfeld, ; Han, et al , ; De Rodas, et al , ; Zhou, et al , ).…”

“…Recently, evidence has suggested that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in weaning weight modulation (Rosenfeld, 2017;De Rodas, et al, 2018;Zhou, et al, 2018).…”

Gut feelings begin in childhood: how the gut metagenome links to early environment, caregiving, and behavior

“…Such differences in microbial exposure in early development associate with different profiles of immune function (33). Furthermore, adverse postnatal environments that are often comorbid with socioeconomic risk, such as frequent antibiotic use or toxin exposure, associate with altered microbial composition and intestinal permeability (34, 35). Future work should build upon these findings to test if the microbiome may serve as a mechanism by which economic and social adversity (socioeconomic risk) influences behavioral dysregulation.…”

Disparate effects of antibiotic-induced microbiome change and enhanced fitness inDaphnia magna

“…In multicellular organisms, the microbiome contributes to critical aspects of host development and physiology (1). In ecological, evolutionary and ecotoxicological research, there is growing recognition that environmental stresses imposed upon the microbiome may drive physiological responses, life-history penalties and adaptation capacity of their hosts (2), (3) 4). Consequently, coping with various environmental insults would involve both the host and its microbiome responses.…”

“…These reductions we expected would be due to reduced bacterial diversity in particular, and to some extent, an altered community composition. These hypotheses were tested by combining (1) long-term (21 d) exposure experiments with life-table analysis, (2) microbiome profiling using the next generation sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and taxonomic assignment, and (3) measurements of daphnid total antioxidant capacity, growth, and fecundity.…”