Gut microbiota, host genetics and phenotypes in aquatic animals: A review

Abstract

In aquatic animals, microbial communities associated with the host exert powerful influences on physiology, reproduction, nutrient metabolism, and phenotypic traits, as well as complex host behaviors. This relationship between host and microbes suggests that host-microbiota interactions might have influenced the host's genetic and phenotypic variation. To improve our understanding of how microbes and hosts interact and produce phenotypes, it is necessary to focus on animal phenotypic traits as a basis to understand the potential roles for the microbiome in shaping host phenotypes. Here, we review the literatures on the influences of host genetic and environmental effects on intestinal microbial community structure, and corresponding effects of microbiomes on aquatic animal host phenotypes and genetic breeding. This review provides a better understanding of how the gut microbiota establishes a connection with host genetic factors, while modulating the intestinal microbiota to affect phenotypic differentiation. A more detailed understanding of how the microbiota influences host phenotypes might contribute to determining the role of gut microbiota in the field of genetic breeding of aquatic animals.