Mucosa-associated bacterial microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract of weaned pigs and dynamics linked to dietary calcium-phosphorus

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 23;9(1):e86950. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086950. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Dietary composition largely influences pig's gastrointestinal microbiota and represents a useful prophylactic tool against enteric disturbances in young pigs. Despite the importance for host-microbe interactions and bacterial colonization, dietary responses of the mucosa-associated bacterial communities are less well investigated. In the present study, we characterized the mucosa-associated bacterial communities at the Pars non-glandularis of the stomach, ileum and colon, and identified shifts in these communities in response to different dietary calcium-phosphorus (Ca-P) contents (100% versus 190% of the Ca and P requirements) in combination with two basal diets (wheat-barley- or corn-based) in weaned pigs. Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes from 93 mucosal samples yielded 447,849 sequences, clustering into 997 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at 97% similarity level. OTUs were assigned to 198 genera belonging to 14 different phyla. Correlation-based networks revealed strong interactions among OTUs at the various gastrointestinal sites. Our data describe a previously not reported high diversity and species richness at the Pars non-glandularis of the stomach in weaned pigs. Moreover, high versus adequate Ca-P content significantly promoted Lactobacillus by 14.9% units (1.4 fold change) at the gastric Pars non-glandularis (P = 0.035). Discriminant analysis revealed dynamic changes in OTU composition in response to dietary cereals and Ca-P contents at all gastrointestinal sites which were less distinguishable at higher taxonomic levels. Overall, this study revealed a distinct mucosa-associated bacterial community at the different gut sites, and a strong effect of high Ca-P diets on the gastric community, thereby markedly expanding our comprehension on mucosa-associated microbiota and their diet-related dynamics in weaned pigs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium, Dietary / administration & dosage
  • Calcium, Dietary / analysis*
  • Edible Grain / chemistry*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / metabolism*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology*
  • Microbiota*
  • Mucous Membrane / metabolism
  • Mucous Membrane / microbiology*
  • Phosphorus, Dietary / administration & dosage
  • Phosphorus, Dietary / analysis*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics*
  • Swine
  • Weaning

Substances

  • Calcium, Dietary
  • Phosphorus, Dietary
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Grants and funding

Financial support was provided by profile line start up funding program at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and Austrian Promotion Agency (FFG) Project Number 825339. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.