Cockroach gut microbiota transcriptional response to host diet
Diet is a key driver of gut community composition and functional activities. This study collected metagenomes and metatranscriptomes from cockroaches on diets consisting entirely of dog food, oat bran, tuna, butter, or nothing at all. The goal is to determine microbial responses to host diets containing divergent nutrients. 16S studies found no change in the composition of the cockroach hindgut community in response to these diets, so this study also aims to determine microbial activities and strategies that stabilize the community composition.