Gut physiology meets microbiome science

Dietary Taurine Regulation of the Intestinal Microbiome in Chinese Stripe-Necked Turtle (Mauremys sinensis)

Taurine is essential for sustaining the body's physiological equilibrium and is extensively utilized as a dietary supplement and immune system enhancer for aquatic creatures. The gut microbiota serves as a vital health indicator in animals. In this study, our goal was to evaluate the effects of dietary taurine on the gut microbiome of Chinese stripe-necked turtles (Mauremys sinensis). Turtles were evenly divided into three supplementation groups: a control group with no taurine in the diet, a low group with 0.1% taurine, and a high group with 0.4% taurine. High-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze the gut microbiome's composition and structure. The results showed that the impact of taurine supplementation on the α-diversity and β-diversity of the gut microbiome was not statistically significant. At the phylum level, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes predominated the gut microbiome. At the genus level, three beneficial bacteria, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_13, Pygmaiobacter, and Terrisporobacter showed significant differences under different levels of taurine supplementation and increased in abundance with the supplementation of taurine, while the harmful bacterium Brucella decreased in abundance with the addition of taurine and exhibited significant differences. Furthermore, LEfSe analysis and functional predictions highlighted significant variations in the functional traits of gram-positive intestinal bacteria among the different taurine supplementation levels. These findings imply that dietary taurine may alter the intestinal microbiome structure in Chinese stripe-necked turtles, offering valuable insights for the scientific assessment of taurine's health benefits as a feed additive and potentially guiding the formulation of more informed and healthier feeding practices.

The Underrated Gut Microbiota Helminths, Bacteriophages, Fungi, and Archaea

The microbiota inhabits the gastrointestinal tract, providing essential capacities to the host. The microbiota is a crucial factor in intestinal health and regulates intestinal physiology. However, microbiota disturbances, named dysbiosis, can disrupt intestinal homeostasis, leading to the development of diseases. Classically, the microbiota has been referred to as bacteria, though other organisms form this complex group, including viruses, archaea, and eukaryotes such as fungi and protozoa. This review aims to clarify the role of helminths, bacteriophages, fungi, and archaea in intestinal homeostasis and diseases, their interaction with bacteria, and their use as therapeutic targets in intestinal maladies.