What is gut metagenome?
Metagenomics is the study of genetic material retrieved directly from environmental samples including the gut, soil, and water. Typically, human gut microbiota behaves like a multicellular organ, which consists of nearly 200 prevalent bacterial species and approximately 1000 uncommon species [1].
Do mice have a similar microbiome to humans?
Summary: Researchers find that when rodents are prevented from consuming feces, their small-intestine microbiota more closely resembles the microbial communities found in human intestines.
Do mice have microbiome?
A distinct series of microbiome changes has been found in aged mice, which partially resembles the changes observed in humans [6]. Matsumoto et al. reported that probiotic treatment can increase longevity in mice, possibly through suppression of chronic low-grade inflammatory processes [8].
How many bacteria are in the gut of a mouse?
Thirty-Seven Core Gut Bacteria Were Identified in Healthy Mice. We collected and re-analysis bacterial sequencing data from three previous studies to figure out the prevalent gut bacteria in the healthy mice.
What is a metagenome and how can it be used for studies of Microbiomes?
Metagenomics is an extremely powerful tool that can be used to describe the genetic potential of the microorganisms present in a given environment. However, it has a very limited function in revealing their activity or gene expression.
Do germ-free mice have microbiota?
Germ-free mice have been shown to have defects in their immune system and energy uptake due to lacking a healthy microbiome. There is also strong evidence for interactions between the mouse microbiome and its brain development and health.
Why did we use germ-free mice?
Work on germ-free mice began in the 1940’s to understand how microorganisms contribute to physiology and disease. Germ-free mice are a critical tool to uncover the causal relationship between the microbiome and disease, and to determine the mechanistic basis through which microbes influence the host.
Do germ-free mice have a gut microbiome?
How long do germ-free mice live?
A higher proportion of germ-free mice live to 600 days than their conventional counterparts, and macrophages derived from aged germ-free mice maintain anti-microbial activity.
Are germ-free mice really germ-free?
Germ-free mice lack all microorganisms (as determined within the limitations of the detection methods available) and are housed in tightly controlled and monitored isolators to prevent contamination. They are microbiologically sterile; no living organisms can be cultured from germ-free mouse specimens.
How can we catalog the mouse gut metagenome?
To comprehensively catalog the mouse gut metagenome, we used a multifactorial experimental design for HiSeq (Illumina) whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing.
How many nonredundant genes are there in the mouse gut?
[…] We established a catalog of the mouse gut metagenome comprising ∼ 2.6 million nonredundant genes by sequencing DNA from fecal samples of 184 mice. To secure high microbiome diversity, we used mouse strains of diverse genetic backgrounds, from different providers, kept in different housing laboratories and fed either a low-fat or high-fat diet.
How does metagenome composition vary across lab settings?
Metagenome composition varied markedly with mouse provider, housing laboratory, strain, gender and feed, emphasizing the need for carefully controlled experimental conditions and caution in comparing data from different laboratories.
Is the mouse gut microbiome similar to the human gut microbiome?
The mouse gut microbiome is functionally similar to its human counterpart, with 95.2% of its Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) orthologous groups in common. However, only 4.0% of the mouse gut microbial genes were shared (95% identity, 90% coverage) with those of the human gut microbiome.