Gut Microbiome Differences Across Mixed-Sex and Female-Only Social Rearing Regimes in Female Field Crickets Teleogryllus occipitalis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae).

ABSTRACT: The insect gut microbiome contributes to various host physiological processes and behaviors, such as digestion, nutrient absorption, immunity, mate choice, and fecundity. The social environment can shape gut microbial communities. Mixed-sex vs. female-only rearing is an important social context because it differs in exposure to the opposite sex and mating opportunities, which may in turn affect female physiology that may influence their gut microbiome. Despite the growing recognition of these social-microbial interactions, most studies have relied on 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing or qPCR, which provide only coarse taxonomic resolution and limited functional insight. In this study, we used whole-genome shotgun metagenomics to examine changes in microbial diversity and functional gene composi

SUBMITTER: Hirata K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12841673 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature