Perturbation Dynamics of the Rumen Microbiota in Response to Exogenous Butyrate

Abstract

The capacity of the rumen microbiota to produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs) has important implications in animal well-being and production. We investigated temporal changes of the rumen microbiota in response to butyrate infusion using pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Twenty one phyla were identified in the rumen microbiota of dairy cows. The rumen microbiota harbored 54.5±6.1 genera (mean ± SD) and 127.3±4.4 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), respectively. However, the core microbiome comprised of 26 genera and 82 OTUs. Butyrate infusion altered molar percentages of 3 major VFAs. Butyrate perturbation had a profound impact on the rumen microbial composition. A 72 h-infusion led to a significant change in the numbers of sequence reads derived from 4 phyla, including 2 most abundant phyla, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. As many as 19 genera and 43 OTUs were significantly impacted by butyrate infusion. Elevated butyrate levels in the rumen seemingly had a stimulating effect on butyrate-producing bacteria populations. The resilience of the rumen microbial ecosystem was evident as the abundance of the microorganisms returned to their pre-disturbed status after infusion withdrawal. Our findings provide insight into perturbation dynamics of the rumen microbial ecosystem and should guide efforts in formulating optimal uses of probiotic bacteria treating human diseases.

Buccal Swabbing as a Noninvasive Method To Determine Bacterial, Archaeal, and Eukaryotic Microbial Community Structures in the Rumen

“…Elevated levels of Ruminobacter spp. in sheep on this diet are not surprising, as an increasing inclusion of concentrate has been found to result in higher butyrate concentrations (53), which in turn have a stimulating effect on Ruminobacter populations (54). Intriguingly, this genus seemed to be replaced almost entirely and abruptly by Succinivibrio spp.…”

Repeated acidosis challenges and live yeast supplementation shape rumen microbiota and fermentations and modulate inflammatory status in sheep

“…However, pH kinetics suggests that it might take 3 to 7 days following ACs. Li et al (2012) showed that after a 72 h-butyrate infusion, animals recovered a pre-disturbed microbial pattern in 7 days. However, specially designed studies would be necessary to better know the resilience capacity of the rumen after acidosis.…”

Changes in the Rumen Epimural Bacterial Diversity of Beef Cattle as Affected by Diet and Induced Ruminal Acidosis

“…The use of pyrosequencing for the rumen epithelial bacterial community has only recently been applied to preruminant calves (23). Prior to this, all sequencing of the rumen epithelial community was carried out using clone libraries (6,24,25). Li et al (23) used pyrosequencing to study calves up to the age of 49 days and determined that many of the taxa comprising the epimural community in preruminant calves were similar to those found previously in cloning studies using DNA isolated from the rumen epithelium (8,22); of these similar taxa, many were the same as those identified in the current study.…”