Gut microbiome composition and metabolomic profiles of wild western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) reflect host ecology

0443484 - ÚBO 2016 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Gomez, A. - Petrželková, Klára Judita - Yeoman, C. J. - Vlčková, K. - Mrázek, Jakub - Koppová, Ingrid - Carbonero, F. - Ulanov, A. - Modrý, D. - Todd, A. - Torralba, M. - Nelson, K. - Gaskins, H. R. - Wilson, B. - Stumpf, R. M. - White, B. A. - Leigh, S. R.
Gut microbiome composition and metabolomic profiles of wild western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) reflect host ecology.
Molecular Ecology. Roč. 24, č. 10 (2015), s. 2551-2565. ISSN 0962-1083. E-ISSN 1365-294X
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA206/09/0927
Institutional support: RVO:68081766 ; RVO:67985904
Keywords : western lowland gorillas * microbiome * metabolomics * foraging ecology * anthropogenic interactions
Subject RIV: GJ - Animal Vermins ; Diseases, Veterinary Medicine
Impact factor: 5.947, year: 2015

The metabolic activities of gut microbes significantly influence host physiology; thus, characterizing the forces that modulate this micro-ecosystem is key to understanding mammalian biology and fitness. To investigate the gut microbiome of wild primates and determine how this microbial communities respond to the host's external environment, we characterized fecal bacterial communities and, for the first time, gut metabolomes of four wild lowland gorilla groups in the Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic. Results show that geographical range may be an important modulator of the gut microbiomes and metabolomes of these gorilla groups. Distinctions seemed to relate to feeding behavior; implying energy harvest thorough increased fruit consumption or fermentation of highly fibrous foods. These observations were supported by differential abundance of metabolites and bacterial taxa associated to the metabolism of cellulose, phenolics, organic acids, simple sugars, lipids and sterols between gorillas occupying different geographical ranges. Additionally, the gut microbiomes of a gorilla group under increased anthropogenic pressure could always be distinguished from that of all other groups. By characterizing the interplay between environment, behavior, diet and symbiotic gut microbes we present an alternative perspective on primate ecology and on the forces that shape the gut microbiomes of wild primates from an evolutionary context.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0246199