Abstract
BackgroundThe distribution pattern of the earthworm gut microbiota at the host population level is of fundamental importance to understand host-microbiota interactions. Our current understanding of these interactions is very limited. Since feeding represents a main perturbation of the gut microbiota, we determined the effect of a single dose of feed on the microbiota associated with an earthworm population in a simulated microenvironment.MethodologyEarthworms were sampled 0, 1 and 7 days after feeding. We determined the overall composition of the earthworm-associated microbiota by 16S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing. Based on the 16S rRNA gene data we constructed quantitative PCR's (Q-PCR) for the seven most dominating bacterial groups.Principal FindingsQ-PCR revealed low density and highly variable microbiota among the earthworms before feeding, while a high-density homologous microbiota resulted from feeding. We found that the microbiota 1 day after feeding was more equal to the microbiota after 7 days than before feeding. Furthermore, we found that the gut microbiota was very distinct from that of the bedding and the feed.SignificanceThe homogenous population response represents fundamental new knowledge about earthworm gut associated bacteria.
Highlights
The gastrointestinal tract with its microbiota is one of the most important metazoan organs [1]
There is an intimate interaction between gut bacteria, having the metabolic capacity to break down polysaccharides or energy sources the host can not directly utilize
There has been a long-standing debate of whether bacteria can colonize the earthworm gut [7,9], or if they only transiently pass through the gut without colonization [6]
Summary
The gastrointestinal tract (gut in popular terms) with its microbiota is one of the most important metazoan (animal) organs [1]. A tremendous challenge to the host, is to differentiate beneficial from harmful bacteria, since the gut is in direct contact with the environment through ingested food [2] Despite their importance, we still do not know the general mechanisms governing the transmission and persistence of gut bacteria within a host population [3,4]. We still do not know the general mechanisms governing the transmission and persistence of gut bacteria within a host population [3,4] Invertebrates such as earthworms mainly utilize the gut bacteria for the same purposes as vertebrates, for provision of metabolic capacities and protection against pathogens [5,6,7,8,9,10]. Since feeding represents a main perturbation of the gut microbiota, we determined the effect of a single dose of feed on the microbiota associated with an earthworm population in a simulated microenvironment
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