Microbial diversity and evidence of novel homoacetogens in the gut of both geriatric and adult giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
Recent studies have described the bacterial community residing in the guts of giant pandas, together with the presence of lignocellulolytic enzymes. However, a more comprehensive understanding of the intestinal microbial composition and its functional capacity in giant pandas remains a major goal. Here, we conducted a comparison of bacterial, fungal and homoacetogenic microbial communities from fecal samples taken from two geriatric and two adult captive giant pandas. 16S rDNA amplicon pyrosequencing revealed that Firmicutes and Proteobacteria are the most abundant microbiota in both geriatric and adult giant pandas. However, members of phylum Actinobacteria found in adult giant pandas were absent in their geriatric counterparts. Similarly, ITS1 amplicon pyrosequencing identified developmental changes in the most abundant fungal classes from Sordariomycetes in adult pandas to Saccharomycetes in geriatric pandas. Geriatric pandas exhibited significantly higher abundance of a potential probiotic fungus (Candida tropicalis) as compared to adult pandas, indicating their importance in the normal digestive physiology of aged pandas. Our study also reported the presence of a lignocellulolytic white-rot fungus, Perenniporia medulla-panis, and the evidence of novel homoacetogens residing in the guts of giant pandas.
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Hein Min
HM
Tun
Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR ; Hong Kong Wildlife Health Foundation, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Nathalie France
NF
Mauroo
Clinical Laboratory, Veterinary Center, Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Chan San
CS
Yuen
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
John Chi Wang
JC
Ho
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Mabel Ting
MT
Wong
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR ; Bioinformatics Center, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
Frederick Chi-Ching
FC
Leung
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D044822:Biodiversity; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D005574:Formate-Tetrahydrofolate Ligase / Q000235:genetics; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D054892:Metagenome; D064307:Microbiota; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D001503:Ursidae / Q000382:microbiology*
D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D005574:Formate-Tetrahydrofolate Ligase