Comparative analysis of gut microbiota among the male, female and pregnant giant pandas (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca)

Abstract

The giant panda (GP) was the most endangered species in China, and gut microbiota plays a vital role in host health. To determine the differences of the gut microbiota among the male, female and pregnant GPs, a comparative analysis of gut microbiota in GPs was carried out by 16S rRNA and ITS high-throughput sequencing. In 16S rRNA sequencing, 435 OTUs, 17 phyla and 182 genera were totally detected. <i>Firmicutes</i> (53.6%) was the predominant phylum followed by <i>Proteobacteria</i> (37.8%) and <i>Fusobacteria</i> (7.1%). <i>Escherichia/Shigella</i> (35.9%) was the most prevalent genus followed by <i>Streptococcus</i> (25.9%) and <i>Clostridium</i> (11.1%). In ITS sequencing, 920 OTUs, 6 phyla and 322 genera were also detected. <i>Ascomycota</i> (71.3%) was the predominant phylum followed by <i>Basidiomycota</i> (28.4%) and <i>Zygomycota</i> (0.15%). <i>Purpureocillium</i> (4.4%) was the most prevalent genus followed by <i>Cladosporium</i> (2.5%) and <i>Pezicula</i> (2.4%). Comparative analysis indicated that the male GPs harbor a higher abundance of phylum <i>Firmicutes</i> than female GPs with the contribution from genus <i>Streptococcus</i>. Meanwhile, the female GPs harbor a higher abundance of phylum <i>Proteobacteria</i> than male GPs with the contribution from genus <i>Escherichia/ Shigella</i>. In addition, the shift in bacteria from female to pregnant GPs indicated that phylum <i>Firmicutes</i> increased significantly with the contribution from <i>Clostridium</i> in the gut, which may provide an opportunity to study possible associations with low reproduction of the GPs.