Ecoevolutionary processes structure milk microbiomes across the mammalian tree of life.

ABSTRACT: Milk production is an ancient adaptation that unites all mammals. Milk contains a microbiome that can contribute to offspring health and microbial-immunological development. We generated a comprehensive milk microbiome dataset (16S rRNA gene) for the class Mammalia, representing 47 species from all placental superorders, to determine processes structuring milk microbiomes. We show that across Mammalia, milk exposes offspring to maternal bacterial and archaeal symbionts throughout lactation. Deterministic processes of environmental selection accounted for 20% of milk microbiome assembly processes; milk microbiomes were similar from mammals with the same host superorder (Afrotheria, Laurasiathera, Euarchontoglires, and Xenarthra: 6%), environment (marine captive, marine wild, terrestrial cap

SUBMITTER: Keady MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10334807 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature