Gut Microbial Profiles in Nereis succinea and Their Contribution to the Degradation of Organic Pollutants

Abstract

Gut microbiota of wildlife are usually exposed to and involved in degrading environmental pollutants, yet their biodegrading capacity remains largely unexplored. Here, we analyzed gut microbial profiles of a marine benthic polychaete, Nereis succinea, and elaborated the capacity of gut microbiota in degrading various organic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, phenols, and synthetic musks. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that the structures of microbial communities, including bacteria, fungi, and archaea, varied along the gut, manifesting distinct structural features in the fore-, mid-, and hindgut regions. Community-level physiological profiles and the capacity of gut microbiota in degrading the pollutants showed profound gut region and oxygen dependent features. In general, anaerobes were more active in degrading the pollutants, and those in the midgut presented the maximum degrading potential. Degradation capability of the gut microbiota was further quantitatively validated in an in vitro culture system using chlorpyrifos and malathion as representative compounds. Our results demonstrated a potential impact of gut microbiota in wildlife on the fate of organic pollutants in the ecosystem, which calls for further research on the influences of gut microbiota on biotransformation and bioaccumulation of xenobiotics in organisms.

Toxicology and Microbiota: How Do Pesticides Influence Gut Microbiota? A Review

“…They found an abundance of Proteobacteria with an alteration of α-Proteobacteria , β - Proteobacteria, and γ - Proteobacteria in CPF-treated zebrafishes compared to the control [ 60 ]. Still, through the use of an in vitro culture system, the gut microbiota of a marine benthic polychaete, ‘ Nereis succinea ’, showed fundamental metabolizing activity towards two representative organophosphates, CPF and malathion [ 61 ]. The impact of CPF on the gut microbiota has also been studied in vitro using the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME ® ) and Caco-2/TC7 cells of the intestinal mucosa.…”

Metagenome and metabolome insights into the energy compensation and exogenous toxin degradation of gut microbiota in high-altitude rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

“…Wildlife gut microbiota is commonly exposed to environmental contaminants and is involved in the process of degrading environmental contaminants 68 . The gastrointestinal tract is the main route for xenobiotics to enter the body, and the gut microbiota has a high metabolic potential for xenobiotics.…”

“…The gastrointestinal tract is the main route for xenobiotics to enter the body, and the gut microbiota has a high metabolic potential for xenobiotics. Gut microbiota can directly metabolize xenobiotic compounds of exogenous origin or affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of xenobiotics in the host, thus changing the toxicity of xenobiotics to the host [68][69][70] . PAHs are a broad class of organic pollutants present in the environment and toxic to humans and animals 71 .…”

Role of Gastrointestinal Microbiota from Crucian Carp in Microbial Transformation and Estrogenicity Modification of Novel Plastic Additives

“…The anaerobes in the midgut of marine benthic polychaete, Nereis succinea were found to have a maximum degrading potential when the degradation capability of chlorpyrifos and malathion was further quantitatively validated. 29 The transformation extent for a given compound often depends on the composition of the GI microbiota. 27,30,31 Although anaerobes such as the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla occupy the dominant position of the GI microbiota, large variability in their community composition has been observed among species.…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, only one study has investigated the ability of gut microbiota from aquatic animals in biotransformation of organic pollutants. The anaerobes in the midgut of marine benthic polychaete, Nereis succinea were found to have a maximum degrading potential when the degradation capability of chlorpyrifos and malathion was further quantitatively validated . The transformation extent for a given compound often depends on the composition of the GI microbiota. ,, Although anaerobes such as the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla occupy the dominant position of the GI microbiota, large variability in their community composition has been observed among species. , However, to date, the previous research mainly focused on GI microbiota transformations of pollutants in mammals and invertebrates, leaving other animals, such as fish, underrepresented.…”