Project description:Long-term dietary intake influences the structure and activity of the trillions of microorganisms residing in the human gut, but it remains unclear how rapidly and reproducibly the human gut microbiome responds to short-term macronutrient change. Here we show that the short-term consumption of diets composed entirely of animal or plant products alters microbial community structure and overwhelms inter-individual differences in microbial gene expression. The animal-based diet increased the abundance of bile-tolerant microorganisms (Alistipes, Bilophila and Bacteroides) and decreased the levels of Firmicutes that metabolize dietary plant polysaccharides (Roseburia, Eubacterium rectale and Ruminococcus bromii). Microbial activity mirrored differences between herbivorous and carnivorous mammals, reflecting trade-offs between carbohydrate and protein fermentation. Foodborne microbes from both diets transiently colonized the gut, including bacteria, fungi and even viruses. Finally, increases in the abundance and activity of Bilophila wadsworthia on the animal-based diet support a link between dietary fat, bile acids and the outgrowth of microorganisms capable of triggering inflammatory bowel disease. In concert, these results demonstrate that the gut microbiome can rapidly respond to altered diet, potentially facilitating the diversity of human dietary lifestyles. RNA-Seq analysis of the human gut microbiome during consumption of a plant- or animal-based diet.
Project description:Transcriptomics and molecular evolutionary rate analysis of the Bladderwort (Utricularia), a Carnivorous Plant with a Minimal Genome
Project description:We report a comparison of tissue-specific (head kidney, intestine and liver) gene expression profiles from gilthead sea bream fed with control and Brewer's spent dry yeast (SDY) diets.The inclusion of SDY at 30% in the experimental diet (40% crude protein, 16% crude lipid) resulted in a reduction in FM (10%) and PP (31.4%) contents. 218 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified among all tissues, out of which, 141 were up- and 77 down-regulated. The enrichment analysis of DEGs revealed that SDY had a modulatory effect on several processes related to host’s immunity, oxygen’s carrier capacity, sexual differentiation, metabolism, and digestion. This study supports the notion that brewery’s by-products like SDY are suitable for aquafeeds of carnivorous fish species such as the gilthead sea bream, and promotes a circular bioeconomy model that reuses, recovers and recycles resources instead of producing wastes