Taxonomic differences of gut microbiomes drive cellulolytic enzymatic potential within hind-gut fermenting mammals.

ABSTRACT: Host diet influences the diversity and metabolic activities of the gut microbiome. Previous studies have shown that the gut microbiome provides a wide array of enzymes that enable processing of diverse dietary components. Because the primary diet of the porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, is lignified plant material, we reasoned that the porcupine microbiome would be replete with enzymes required to degrade lignocellulose. Here, we report on the bacterial composition in the porcupine microbiome using 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. We extended this analysis to the microbiomes of 20 additional mammals located in Shubenacadie Wildlife Park (Nova Scotia, Canada), enabling the comparison of bacterial diversity amongst three mammalian taxonomic orders (Rodentia, Carnivora, and Artio

SUBMITTER: Finlayson-Trick ECL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5744928 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature