title: Characterisation of gut microbiota in Ossabaw and Göttingen minipigs as models of obesity and metabolic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota is an important contributing factor to obesity and obesity related metabolic disorders, known as the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to characterise the intestinal microbiota in two pig models of obesity namely Göttingen minipigs and the Ossabaw minipigs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cecal, ileal and colonic microbiota from lean and obese Osabaw and Göttingen minipigs were investigated by Illumina-based sequencing and by high throughput qPCR, targeting the 16S rRNA gene in different phylogenetic groups of bacteria. The weight gain through the study was significant in obese Göttingen and Ossabaw minipigs. The lean Göttingen minipigs' cecal microbiota contained significantly higher abundance of Firmicutes (P<0.006), Akkermensia (P<0.01) and Methanovibribacter (P<0.01) than obese Göttingen minipigs. The obese Göttingen cecum had higher abundances of the phyla Spirochaetes (P<0.03), Tenericutes (P<0.004), Verrucomicrobia (P<0.005) and the genus Bacteroides (P<0.001) compared to lean minipigs. The relative proportion of Clostridium cluster XIV was 7.6-fold higher in cecal microbiota of obese Göttingen minipigs as compared to lean. Obese Ossabaw minipigs had a higher abundance of Firmicutes in terminal ileum and lower abundance of Bacteroidetes in colon than lean Ossabaw minipigs (P<0.01). Obese Ossabaws had significantly lower abundances of the genera Prevotella and Lactobacillus and higher abundance of Clostridium in their colon than the lean Ossabaws. Overall, the Göttingen and Ossabaw minipigs displayed different microbial communities in response to diet-induced obesity in the different sections of their intestine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity-related changes in the composition of the gut microbiota were found in lean versus obese Göttingen and Ossabaw minipigs. In both pig models diet seems to be the defining factor that shapes the gut microbiota as observed by changes in different bacteria divisions between lean and obese minipigs.
authors: Department of Bacteriology Pathology and Parasitology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Pedersen
authors: Hans-Christian
authors: HC
authors: Ingerslev
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Sturek
authors: Mouhamad
authors: M
authors: Alloosh
authors: Susanna
authors: S
authors: Cirera
authors: Berit Ø
authors: BØ
authors: Christoffersen
authors: Sophia G
authors: SG
authors: Moesgaard
authors: Niels
authors: N
authors: Larsen
authors: Mette
authors: M
authors: Boye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D054892:Metagenome / Q000235:genetics; D009765:Obesity / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S