Red pandas with different diets and environments exhibit different gut microbial functional composition and capacity  

作　　者：Yunwei LU Liang ZHANG Xu LIU Yue LAN Lixia WU Jiao WANG Kongju WU Chaojie YANG Ruiqing LV Dejiao YI Guifu ZHUO Yan LI Fujun SHEN Rong HOU Bisong YUE Zhenxin FAN 

机构地区：[1]Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment(Ministry of Education),College of Life Sciences,Sichuan University,Chengdu,China [2]Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife,Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding,Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda,Chengdu,Sichuan,China [3]Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology on Endangered Wildlife,College of Life Sciences,Sichuan University,Chengdu,China

出　　处：《Integrative Zoology》2024年第4期662-682,共21页整合动物学(英文版)

基　　金：supported by Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province(NO.2022NSFSC0126);Foundation of Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding(No.2020CPB-B06).

摘　　要：The red panda(Ailurus fulgens)is a distinctive mammal known for its reliance on a diet primarily consisting of bamboo.The gut microbiota and overall health of animals are strongly influenced by diets and environments.Therefore,conducting research to explore the taxonomical and functional variances within the gut microbiota of red pandas exposed to various dietary and environmental conditions could shed light on the dynamic complexities of their microbial communities.In this study,normal fecal samples were obtained from red pandas residing in captive and semi-free environments under different dietary regimes and used for metabolomic,16S rRNA,and metagenomic sequencing analysis,with the pandas classified into four distinct cohorts according to diet and environment.In addition,metagenomic sequencing was conducted on mucus fecal samples to elucidate potential etiological agents of disease.Results revealed an increased risk of gastrointestinal diseases in red pandas consuming bamboo shoots due to the heightened presence of pathogenic bacteria,although an increased presence of microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolites appeared to facilitate intestinal balance.The red pandas fed bamboo leaves also exhibited a decrease in gut microbial diversity,which may be attributed to the antibacterial flavonoids and lower protein levels in leaves.Notably,red pandas residing in semi-free environments demonstrated an enriched gut microbial diversity.Moreover,the occurrence of mucus secretion may be due to an increased presence of species associated with diarrhea and a reduced level of microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolites.In summary,our findings substantiate the influential role of diet and environment in modulating the gut microbiota of red pandas,offering potential implications for improved captive breeding practices.

关 键 词：captive environment DIET gut microbiota red panda 

分 类 号：R57[医药卫生—消化系统]