title: Analysis of cultivable microbiota and diet intake pattern of the long-lived naked mole-rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A variety of microbial communities exist throughout the human and animal body. Genetics, environmental factors and long-term dietary habit contribute to shaping the composition of the gut microbiota. For this reason the study of the gut microbiota of a mammal exhibiting an extraordinary life span is of great importance. The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is a eusocial mammal known for its longevity and cancer resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here we analyzed its gut microbiota by cultivating the bacteria under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and identifying their species by mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether, 29 species of microbes were identified, predominantly belonging to Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. The most frequent species were Bacillus megaterium (45.2 %), followed by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (19.4 %), Bacteroides ovatus, Staphylococcus sciuri and Paenibacillus spp., each with a frequency of 16.1 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the gut of the naked mole-rat is colonized by diverse, but low numbers of cultivable microbes compared with humans and mice. The primary food plants of the rodents are rich in polyphenols and related compounds, possessing anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative as well as anti-cancer activity which may contribute to their exceptionally healthy life.
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany ; Medical Faculty, Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany ; College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Tewodros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Debebe
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holtze
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morhart
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas Bernd
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodewald
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huse
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Platzer
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Dereje
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wyohannes
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Salomon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yirga
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Alemayehu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lemma
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral, Transplantation, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thieme
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: König
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Birkenmeier
keywords: Diet; Microbiota; Naked mole-rat; Polyphenols