Whole-Genome Metagenomic Analysis of Functional Profiles in the Fecal Microbiome of Farmed Sows with Different Reproductive Performances

Recent studies suggested an association between the reproductive performance of sows and their gut microbiota. To understand how the gut microbiota affect the reproductive performances of sows, we conducted a whole-genome metagenomic analysis on the fecal microbial functional profiles of sows with h...

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Main Authors: Hiroto Miura, Takamitsu Tsukahara, Ryo Inoue
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/11/2180
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author Hiroto Miura
Takamitsu Tsukahara
Ryo Inoue
author_facet Hiroto Miura
Takamitsu Tsukahara
Ryo Inoue
author_sort Hiroto Miura
collection DOAJ
description Recent studies suggested an association between the reproductive performance of sows and their gut microbiota. To understand how the gut microbiota affect the reproductive performances of sows, we conducted a whole-genome metagenomic analysis on the fecal microbial functional profiles of sows with high and low reproductive performances. We used 60 sows from six farms (10 sows/farm), including 30 sows from three farms with higher reproductive performances (the mean number of weaned piglets/sow/year) (group H) and 30 sows from three farms with lower performances (group L). Fecal microbial DNA was subjected to a whole-genome metagenomic analysis. Biomarker exploration analysis identified “carbohydrate transport and metabolism” as the most discriminative function enriched in group H. Further analysis of carbohydrate-active enzymes revealed that the fecal microbiome of group H had a greater capacity to degrade dietary fiber, specifically cellulose and pectin. Group H also exhibited higher fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations than group L, with the abundances of cellulose- and pectin-degrading genes showing significant positive correlations with fecal SCFA concentrations. Taxonomic analysis indicated greater contributions of <i>Prevotella</i>, <i>Treponema</i>, <i>Ruminococcus</i>, and <i>Fibrobacter</i> to cellulose and pectin degradation in the fecal microbiome in group H. In conclusion, higher reproductive performances of sows were, at least in part, associated with a greater microbial capacity for degrading cellulose and pectin, resulting in a higher SCFA production in the hindgut.
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spelling doaj-art-35d334d73a5e4d0a9cfa61a075e8cf012024-11-26T18:14:25ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072024-10-011211218010.3390/microorganisms12112180Whole-Genome Metagenomic Analysis of Functional Profiles in the Fecal Microbiome of Farmed Sows with Different Reproductive PerformancesHiroto Miura0Takamitsu Tsukahara1Ryo Inoue2Laboratory of Animal Science, Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Setsunan University, Hirakata 573-0101, JapanKyoto Institute of Nutrition & Pathology, Kyoto 610-0231, JapanLaboratory of Animal Science, Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Setsunan University, Hirakata 573-0101, JapanRecent studies suggested an association between the reproductive performance of sows and their gut microbiota. To understand how the gut microbiota affect the reproductive performances of sows, we conducted a whole-genome metagenomic analysis on the fecal microbial functional profiles of sows with high and low reproductive performances. We used 60 sows from six farms (10 sows/farm), including 30 sows from three farms with higher reproductive performances (the mean number of weaned piglets/sow/year) (group H) and 30 sows from three farms with lower performances (group L). Fecal microbial DNA was subjected to a whole-genome metagenomic analysis. Biomarker exploration analysis identified “carbohydrate transport and metabolism” as the most discriminative function enriched in group H. Further analysis of carbohydrate-active enzymes revealed that the fecal microbiome of group H had a greater capacity to degrade dietary fiber, specifically cellulose and pectin. Group H also exhibited higher fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations than group L, with the abundances of cellulose- and pectin-degrading genes showing significant positive correlations with fecal SCFA concentrations. Taxonomic analysis indicated greater contributions of <i>Prevotella</i>, <i>Treponema</i>, <i>Ruminococcus</i>, and <i>Fibrobacter</i> to cellulose and pectin degradation in the fecal microbiome in group H. In conclusion, higher reproductive performances of sows were, at least in part, associated with a greater microbial capacity for degrading cellulose and pectin, resulting in a higher SCFA production in the hindgut.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/11/2180pigreproductive performancegut microbiotaCAZymefiber degradationshort-chain fatty acid
spellingShingle Hiroto Miura
Takamitsu Tsukahara
Ryo Inoue
Whole-Genome Metagenomic Analysis of Functional Profiles in the Fecal Microbiome of Farmed Sows with Different Reproductive Performances
Microorganisms
pig
reproductive performance
gut microbiota
CAZyme
fiber degradation
short-chain fatty acid
title Whole-Genome Metagenomic Analysis of Functional Profiles in the Fecal Microbiome of Farmed Sows with Different Reproductive Performances
title_full Whole-Genome Metagenomic Analysis of Functional Profiles in the Fecal Microbiome of Farmed Sows with Different Reproductive Performances
title_fullStr Whole-Genome Metagenomic Analysis of Functional Profiles in the Fecal Microbiome of Farmed Sows with Different Reproductive Performances
title_full_unstemmed Whole-Genome Metagenomic Analysis of Functional Profiles in the Fecal Microbiome of Farmed Sows with Different Reproductive Performances
title_short Whole-Genome Metagenomic Analysis of Functional Profiles in the Fecal Microbiome of Farmed Sows with Different Reproductive Performances
title_sort whole genome metagenomic analysis of functional profiles in the fecal microbiome of farmed sows with different reproductive performances
topic pig
reproductive performance
gut microbiota
CAZyme
fiber degradation
short-chain fatty acid
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/11/2180
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