The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) gut microbiome, seasonal dynamics, and potential application in lignocellulose bioconversion.

ABSTRACT: Aiming to shed light on the biology of wild ruminants, we investigated the gut microbiome seasonal dynamics of the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) from the Central Italian Alps. Feces were collected in spring, summer, and autumn during non-invasive sampling campaigns. Samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, as well as targeted and untargeted metabolomics. Our findings revealed season-specific compositional and functional profiles of the ibex gut microbiome that may allow the host to adapt to seasonal changes in available forage, by fine-tuning the holobiont catabolic layout to fully exploit the available food. Besides confirming the importance of the host-associated microbiome in providing the phenotypic plasticity needed to buffer dietary changes, we o

SUBMITTER: Nanetti E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11233967 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature