Project description:BACKGROUND:Gastrointestinal microbiota play an important role in animal host immunity, nutrient metabolism, and energy acquisition, and have therefore drawn increasing attentions. This study compared the diversity of the gut microbiota of both wild and captive bharals, which is an ungulate herbivore of caprid from the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. RESULTS:The sequencing of the V4-V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene via high-throughput sequencing technology showed that the dominant bacterial phyla are Firmicutes and Bacteroides both in wild and captive bharals. However, their abundance differed significantly between groups. Firmicutes were significantly higher in wild bharals, while Bacteroides were significantly higher in captive bharals. Different diets are likely a key influencing factor in the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota in bharals. CONCLUSIONS:Changes in diets affect the diversity of gut microbiota and the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria, increasing the risk of diseases outbreak in captive bharals. The results of this study suggest that the structure and function of the gut microbiota should be regulated via dietary intervention, accurate provision of an individualized diet, and optimization of the functional network of gut microbiota and its interaction with the host. This will improve the ex situ protection of wild animals.

| S-EPMC6626359 | biostudies-literature

Seasonal Variation and Sexual Dimorphism of the Microbiota in Wild Blue Sheep (<i>Pseudois nayaur</i>).

Project description:Microbiota of the wild blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) presents a seasonal variation due to different dietary selection and feeding strategies from different ecological niches chosen by different sex in summer. To address those issues, we analyzed the variation of gut microbiota based on the material from the feces, with 16S rRNA and meta-genome aimed to explore seasonal and gender differences. The results indicate that seasonal dietary changes and gender differentiation, as expected, cause the variation in sheep's gut microbiota structure. The variation of the former is more significant than the latter. Dominant Firmicutes exists a significantly higher abundance in summer than that in winter. Subordinate Bacteroides expresses no seasonal difference between the two seasons. Compared with the winter group, the summer group is featured by abundant enzymes digesting cellulose and generating short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as beta-glucosidase (EC: 3.2.1.21) for cellulose digestion, and butyrate kinase (EC:2.7.2.7) in butyrate metabolism, implying that the changes of the composition in intestinal flora allow the sheep to adapt to the seasonalized dietary selection through alternated microbial functions to reach the goal of facilitating the efficiency of energy harvesting. The results also show that the blue sheep expresses a prominent sexual dimorphism in the components of gut microbiota, indicating that the two sexes have different adaptations to the dietary selection, and demands for physical and psychological purposes. Thus, this study provides an example of demonstrating the principles and regulations of natural selection and environmental adaptation.

| S-EPMC7332577 | biostudies-literature

Landscape genetics identified conservation priority areas for blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) in the Indian Trans-Himalayan Region.

Project description:The trans-Himalayan region of India, although have xeric features, still supports a unique assemblage of biodiversity, including some of the charismatic and endemic species. In the present study, we studied blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) across the distribution range in the Western trans Himalayas of India and found about 18,775 km2 area suitable for blue sheep. The explicit Bayesian based spatial and non-spatial population structure analysis assigned blue sheep into two genetic populations, i.e., Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti. We found relatively high genetic divergence in blue sheep which is also supported by the low current flow in Circuitscape model. With the multiple evidences, we explain landscape resistance facilitated by the landscape heterogeneity, and large patches of unsuitable habitats forced population divergence and poor functional connectivity. We found that blue sheep population has been demographically stable in the past, but showed a slight decline within the last few decades. This study is the first range-wide attempt to exhibit landscape features in shaping the spatial distribution, genetic structure and demography patterns of blue sheep in Western Himalayas, and will be of use in the conservation and management planning of blue sheep.

| S-EPMC10598060 | biostudies-literature

Tbx6b ChIP-chip on Ciona intestinalis embryo (early gastrula)

Project description:A genomic overview of in vivo binding of a transcription factor Tbx6b in the ascidian early gastrula embryo.

2010-03-09 | GSE17694 | GEO

SoxC ChIP-chip on Ciona intestinalis embryo (early gastrula)

Project description:A genomic overview of in vivo binding of a transcription factor SoxC in the ascidian early gastrula embryo.

2010-03-09 | GSE17692 | GEO

Snail ChIP-chip on Ciona intestinalis embryo (early gastrula)

Project description:A genomic overview of in vivo binding of a transcription factor Snail in the ascidian early gastrula embryo.

2010-03-09 | GSE17691 | GEO

Otx ChIP-chip on Ciona intestinalis embryo (early gastrula)

Project description:A genomic overview of in vivo binding of a transcription factor Otx in the ascidian early gastrula embryo.