Abstract
Ruminant animals contribute significantly to the global value of agriculture and rely on a complex microbial community for efficient digestion. However, little is known of how this microbial-host relationship develops and is maintained. To begin to address this, we have determined the ability of three Bifidobacterium species isolated from the faeces of newborn calves to grow on carbohydrates typical of a newborn ruminant diet. Genome sequences have been determined for these bacteria with analysis of the genomes providing insights into the host association and identification of several genes that may mediate interactions with the ruminant gastrointestinal tract. The present study provides a starting point from which we can define the role of potential beneficial microbes in the nutrition of young ruminants and begin to influence the interactions between the microbiota and the host. The differences observed in genomic content hint at niche partitioning among the bifidobacterial species analysed and the different strategies they employ to successfully adapt to this habitat.
Highlights
Ruminant animals such as cattle and sheep contribute significantly to the global value of agriculture by supporting the livelihoods and food security of almost a billion people worldwide[1]
This study has examined the genomes of three species of Bifidobacterium isolated from newborn calves, and focused on the genetic strategies these bacteria use for carbohydrate metabolism and host colonization and persistence
Dietary carbohydrates and host-derived glycans are the main energy sources for bifidobacteria and all three strains have the ability to utilize a range of carbohydrates that are likely to be available in the calf gastrointestinal environment
Summary
Ruminant animals such as cattle and sheep contribute significantly to the global value of agriculture by supporting the livelihoods and food security of almost a billion people worldwide[1]. Ruminants are foregut fermenters that have evolved an efficient digestive system, which relies on a complex microbial community to ferment plant fibre and provide fermentation end-products and other nutrients for growth of the animal[2] This reliance develops at birth where vertical transmission of microbes from the mother is considered a pivotal route for microbiota establishment in newborns[3]. Several constituents of milk such as oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates are known to selectively enrich for bifidobacteria[5] These microbes have been shown to have a versatile and important role in human infant gut development ranging from stimulation and maintenance of the intestinal mucosal barrier and its immune response, to prevention of the attachment of pathogens and production of a range of beneficial metabolic substrates[6,7,8].
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