Animal Age Affects the Gut Microbiota and Immune System in Captive Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus).

ABSTRACT: Gut microbiota is one of the major elements in the control of host health. However, the composition of gut microbiota in koalas has rarely been investigated. Here, we performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing to determine the individual and environmental determinants of gut microbiota diversity and function in 35 fecal samples collected from captive koalas. Meanwhile, blood immune-related cytokine levels were examined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR to initially explore the relationship between the gut microbiota and the immune system in koalas. The relative abundance of many bacteria, such as Lonepinella koalarum, varies at different ages in koalas and decreases with age. Conversely, Ruminococcus flavefaciens increases with age. Moreover, bacterial pathways involved in lipid metabolism

SUBMITTER: Chen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9927321 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature