Molecular characterization and tissue expression profiles of prepro-vasoactive intestinal peptide in the Chinese alligator (<i>Alligator sinensis</i>) during the active and hibernating periods

Zhang, Shengzhou; Meng, Ting; Zhu, Xue; Wang, Huan; Zhou, Yongkang; Wu, Xiaobing

doi:10.1002/jez.2072

Cited by 1 publication

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“…The Chinese alligator is a poikilotherm whose body temperature ( T b ) varies with the ambient temperature. It completely ceases food intake and body movement and enters a state of hibernation when the environmental temperature falls below 14°C (Zhang et al, 2017). Unlike mammals, the Chinese alligator is not interrupted by spontaneous periodic arousals, which are characteristic of the 13-lined ground squirrel (Stevenson et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metagenomics Reveals Seasonal Functional Adaptation of the Gut Microbiome to Host Feeding and Fasting in the Chinese Alligator

Tang

Wang²,

Wan

et al. 2019

Front. Microbiol.

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As a natural hibernator, the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is an ideal and intriguing model to investigate changes in microbial community structure and function caused by hibernation. In this study, we used 16S rRNA profiling and metagenomic analysis to compare the composition, diversity, and functional capacity in the gut microbiome of hibernating vs. active Chinese alligators. Our results show that gut microbial communities undergo seasonal restructuring in response to seasonal cycles of feeding and fasting in the Chinese alligator, but this animal harbors a core gut microbial community primarily dominated by Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes across the gut regions. During hibernation, there is an increase in the abundance of bacterial taxa (e.g., the genus Bacteroides) that can degrade host mucin glycans, which allows adaptation to winter fasting. This is accompanied by the enrichment of mucin oligosaccharide-degrading enzyme and carbohydrate-active enzyme families. In contrast, during the active phase (feeding), active Chinese alligators exhibit a carnivore gut microbiome dominated by Fusobacteria, and there is an increase in the relative abundance of bacteria (e.g., Cetobacterium somerae) with known proteolytic and amino acids-fermentating functions that improve host protein-rich food digestion efficiency. In addition, seasonal variations in the expression of β-defensins play a protective role in intestinal immunity. These findings provide insights into the functional adaptations of host–gut microbe symbioses to seasonal dietary shifts to maintain gut homeostasis and health, especially in extreme physiological states.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%