Zemb, O. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2020

Functional maturation of the gut microbiota at weaning is influenced by maternal environment in piglets

The objective of this study was to analyze in piglets the impact of weaning on the production of metabolites by gut bacteria and to determine whether early life environment influences the functional maturation of the gut microbiota. Fecal metabolome and microbiome were analyzed in piglets raised in two separate maternity farms and mixed at weaning. In piglets from both maternity farms, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and of the predicted function "Fucose degradation" decreased after weaning while the relative abundance of Ruminococcus 2 and of the predicted function "Starch degradation" increased. In piglets from the first maternity farm, the relative concentration of biogenic amines and the relative abundance of Escherichi-Shigella decreased after weaning while the relative concentration of short chain fatty acids and the relative abundance of Christensenellaceae R-7 group and Ruminococcaceae UCG-002 increased. These changes were not observed at weaning in piglets from the second maternity farm probably because they already had high relative concentration of short chain fatty acids and higher relative abundance of Christensenellaceae R-7 group and Ruminococcaceae UCG-002 during the suckling period. In conclusion, the functional maturation of the microbiota at weaning is highly dependent on the maternal environment in piglets. ORIGINALITY - SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTBacterial metabolites are key molecular intermediates between the gut microbiota and host cells. Our study in piglets reveals that the metabolic activity of the gut microbiota shifts at weaning, a key developmental period for intestinal and immune health. We also show that this functional maturation of the gut microbiota is strongly influenced by maternal environment. Thus, targeting early life environmental factors is a promising strategy to program health trough the production of beneficial bacterial metabolites at the suckling-to-weaning transition.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

The fecal microbiota of piglets is influenced by the farming environment and is associated with piglet robustness at weaning

This study describes the response of piglet microbiota to weaning in various environments, and investigates whether microbiota composition is associated with the robustness of piglets. Faecal samples and growth data were collected just before and 7 days after weaning in 288 piglets from 16 commercial farms characterised by their pathogenic status and antimicrobial use. The effect of weaning on the most abundant microbial families of faecal microbiota was roughly the same in all farms and in agreement with previous findings. Four enterotypes, ubiquitous in all farms, were identified, for which the most discriminating genera were Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Lachnospira. They corresponded to a gradual maturational shift from pre to post-weaning microbiota. Besides antimicrobial use, the pathogenic status of the farm had a major influence on the post-weaning microbial evolution of apparently healthy piglets. Regarding individual characteristics, piglets whose growth was less perturbed by weaning had more Bacteroidetes (P < 0.01) and less Proteobacteria (P < 0.001). In response to weaning, they showed a greater increase in Prevotella (P < 0.01), Coprococcus (P< 0.01) and Lachnospira (P < 0.05) than piglets that grew more slowly. Thus, the microbiota of robust piglets shares common characteristics regardless the living environment of animals.

microbiology↗