Relationships between Animal Hosts and Microbiota, Animal Health and Response to Diseases

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Physiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 5503

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Agrofood, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
Interests: system biology; functional genomics; nutrigenomics; metagenomic; biomarkers discovery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the launch of the human metagenome project in 2007, the role of microbiome in shaping host response has gained popularity, and today, it is recognized that also in livestock, companion, and wild animals, the factors affecting the relationship between host and microbes are a fundamental pillar to unravel the complexity of organism response to internal and external stimuli. Microbiome is influenced by genetic factors, sex, age, and nutrition of the host and by climate conditions and influences of the neuronal, endocrine, behavioral, immune, and digestive response of animals, which in turn modify the ability to cope with stressors and to perform in the environment.

Although recently, the animal microbiome issue has received an impressive number of research, it is my opinion that a systematic collection of existing and new data is needed to disentangle the complexity of mutual influences between microbial communities and animal health.

Prof. Dr. Bruno Stefanon
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • livestock
  • companion animals
  • wild animals
  • microbiota
  • metabolites
  • physiology
  • non-communicable diseases
  • infectious diseases
  • environment

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 5281 KiB  
Article
Gut Microbiota Analysis in Silkworms (Bombyx mori) Provides Insights into Identifying Key Bacterials for Inclusion in Artificial Diet Formulations
by Lei Xin, Yazhen Chen, Wantao Rong, Yingcan Qin, Xiaodong Li and Delong Guan
Animals 2024, 14(9), 1261; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14091261 - 23 Apr 2024
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Abstract
The gut microbiome significantly influences the health and productivity of silkworms (Bombyx mori), the cornerstone of sericulture. With the increasing use of cost-effective artificial diets in sericulture, it is crucial to understand how these diets impact the silkworm gut microbiomes. Here [...] Read more.
The gut microbiome significantly influences the health and productivity of silkworms (Bombyx mori), the cornerstone of sericulture. With the increasing use of cost-effective artificial diets in sericulture, it is crucial to understand how these diets impact the silkworm gut microbiomes. Here we employed 16S rRNA sequencing to delineate the impact of three distinct dietary regimens on the silkworm gut microbiomes: exclusive mulberry leaf diet (SY), exclusive artificial feed diet (SL), and a sequential transition from artificial feed to mulberry leaves (ZS). Our results unveiled stark differences in microbial diversity across the groups, with the ZS group displaying an intermediary complexity. LefSe and random forest analyses identified Methylobacteriaceae, Microbacterium, and Rhodococcus as significantly enriched in the ZS group, suggesting their potential to facilitate silkworms’ adaptation to dietary transitions. Functional profiling revealed differential pathway regulation, indicating a metabolic reconfiguration in response to dietary modulations. Notably, the enrichment of Lactobacillus and Weissella in both the SL and ZS groups highlights their potential as probiotics in artificial diets. Our findings provide insights into the diet adaptation mechanisms of silkworm gut microbiota, paving the way for harnessing the intestinal bacteria to enhance silkworm health and silk production through targeted microbial interventions in sericulture practices. Full article
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Review

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17 pages, 1290 KiB  
Review
The Microbiota and Equine Asthma: An Integrative View of the Gut–Lung Axis
by Laurence Leduc, Marcio Costa and Mathilde Leclère
Animals 2024, 14(2), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020253 - 13 Jan 2024
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Abstract
Both microbe–microbe and host–microbe interactions can have effects beyond the local environment and influence immunological responses in remote organs such as the lungs. The crosstalk between the gut and the lungs, which is supported by complex connections and intricate pathways, is defined as [...] Read more.
Both microbe–microbe and host–microbe interactions can have effects beyond the local environment and influence immunological responses in remote organs such as the lungs. The crosstalk between the gut and the lungs, which is supported by complex connections and intricate pathways, is defined as the gut–lung axis. This review aimed to report on the potential role of the gut–lung gut–lung axis in the development and persistence of equine asthma. We summarized significant determinants in the development of asthma in horses and humans. The article discusses the gut–lung axis and proposes an integrative view of the relationship between gut microbiota and asthma. It also explores therapies for modulating the gut microbiota in horses with asthma. Improving our understanding of the horse gut–lung axis could lead to the development of techniques such as fecal microbiota transplants, probiotics, or prebiotics to manipulate the gut microbiota specifically for improving the management of asthma in horses. Full article
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17 pages, 1508 KiB  
Review
Factors Affecting Gut Microbiota of Puppies from Birth to Weaning
by Fatemeh Balouei, Bruno Stefanon, Sandy Sgorlon and Misa Sandri
Animals 2023, 13(4), 578; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040578 - 06 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3049
Abstract
The review described the most important factors affecting the development of the intestinal microbiota in puppies from birth to weaning. The health and well-being of the microbiome in puppies is influenced by the type of parturition, the maternal microbiota, and the diet of [...] Read more.
The review described the most important factors affecting the development of the intestinal microbiota in puppies from birth to weaning. The health and well-being of the microbiome in puppies is influenced by the type of parturition, the maternal microbiota, and the diet of the mother, directly or indirectly. The isolation of bacteria in dogs from the placenta, fetal fluids, and fetuses suggests that colonization could occur before birth, although this is still a matter of debate. Accordingly, newborn puppies could harbor bacteria that could be of maternal origin and that could influence microbial colonization later in life. However, the long-term impacts on health and the clinical significance of this transfer is not yet clear and needs to be investigated. The same maternal bacteria were found in puppies that were born vaginally and in those delivered via cesarean section. Potentially, the relationship between the type of parturition and the colonization of the microbiome will influence the occurrence of diseases, since it can modulate the gut microbiome during early life. In addition, puppies’ gut microbiota becomes progressively more similar to adult dogs at weaning, as a consequence of the transition from milk to solid food that works together with behavioral factors. A number of researches have investigated the effects of diet on the gut microbiota of dogs, revealing that dietary interference may affect the microbial composition and activity through the production of short-chain fatty acids and vitamins. These compounds play a fundamental role during the development of the fetus and the initial growth of the puppy. The composition of the diet fed during pregnancy to the bitches is also an important factor to consider for the health of newborns. As far as it is known, the effects of the type of parturition, the maternal microbiota, and the diet on the microbial colonization and the long-term health of the dogs deserve further studies. Definitely, longitudinal studies with a larger number of dogs will be required to assess a causal link between microbiome composition in puppies and diseases in adult dogs. Full article
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