Abstract
Unlike for vertebrates, the impact of starvation on the gut microbiome of invertebrates is poorly studied. Deciphering shifts in metabolically active associated bacterial communities in vertebrates has led to determining the role of the associated microbiome in the sensation of hunger and discoveries of associated regulatory mechanisms. From an invertebrate perspective, such as the black soldier fly, such information could lead to enhanced processes for optimized biomass production and waste conversion. Bacteria associated with food substrates of black soldier fly are known to impact corresponding larval life-history traits (e.g., larval development); however, whether black soldier fly larval host state (i.e., starved) impacts the gut microbiome is not known. In this study, we measured microbial community structural and functional shifts due to black soldier fly larvae starvation. Data generated demonstrate such a physiological state (i.e., starvation) does in fact impact both aspects of the microbiome. At the phylum level, community diversity decreased significantly during black soldier fly larval starvation (p = 0.0025). Genus level DESeq2 analysis identified five genera with significantly different relative abundance (q < 0.05) across the 24 and 48 H post initiation of starvation: Actinomyces, Microbacterium, Enterococcus, Sphingobacterium, and Leucobacter. Finally, we inferred potential gene function and significantly predicted functional KEGG Orthology (KO) abundance. We demonstrated the metabolically active microbial community structure and function could be influenced by host-feeding status. Such perturbations, even when short in duration (e.g., 24 H) could stunt larval growth and waste conversion due to lacking a full complement of bacteria and associated functions.
Highlights
Sensations of hunger are caused by an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure (Friedman et al, 1999)
Host-associated bacteria rapidly adapt to changes in host diet through changes in population and induction of signaling compounds and degradation enzymes that facilitate digestion through absorption and metabolism of complex molecules (Read and Holmes, 2017)
Actinobacteria was the most dominant phylum shared by samples from both Fed and Starved, followed by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Euryarchaeota, and Bacteroidetes (Figure 2B)
Summary
Sensations of hunger are caused by an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure (Friedman et al, 1999). Though malnutrition is not the same as hunger, they may be connected (Friedman et al, 1999; Elia, 2017). Recent studies have shown evidence of commensal microorganisms playing significant roles in influencing nutritional decisions, digestion, and metabolism (Read and Holmes, 2017). Many of these organisms have coevolved within their host to perform a number of functions the host would otherwise be unable to accomplish on its own. Characterization (e.g., structure and function) of bacteria is important for understanding the comprehensive physiology of the gastrointestinal tract microbiota and its relationship to both hunger and malnutrition
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